Hawks vs Pelicans final score: New Orleans hammers Atlanta 105-73

The New Orleans Hornets jumped out to an early lead and never looked back coming away with a 105-73 win over the Atlanta Hawks in Biloxi, Mississippi.

The Pelicans began the game with a 9-0 run and the lead eventually ballooned to 18 points as the Hawks struggled at both ends of the floor. The Hawks scrapped back somewhat in the second quarter behind Al Horford and Paul Millsap cutting the lead to 57-45 at the half. However, New Orleans responded in the third outscoring Atlanta 26-16 ending all hopes of a comeback.

Al Horford led Atlanta with 21 points on 9-12 shooting to go along with six rebounds. Millsap was the only other Hawks player in double figures with 13 points.

Things were a struggle from the beginning for Jeff Teague who finished with just five points on 1-8 shooting and six turnovers. Kyle Korver had similar results going 1-7 for two points and 0-6 from three-point range.

Anthony Davis continued his stellar preseason with 23 points and nine rebounds to lead the Pelicans. Ryan Anderson added 20 while Al-Farouq Aminu added 14. Jrue Holiday scored nine of his 13 in the first quarter helping the Pelicans to get off to a great start.

Mike Budenholzer elected to rest DeMarre Carroll, Dennis Schröder and Mike Scott for most of the afternoon and instead focused on some players who are fighting for roster spots. Damien Wilkins started in place of Carroll at small forward and finished with three points and three turnovers in 16 minutes. James Johnson went scoreless in 14 minutes of action.

The Hawks are now off until Thursday when they will open the home portion of their preseason schedule against the San Antonio Spurs.