2020–21 New Orleans Pelicans season

The 2020–21 New Orleans Pelicans season was the 19th season of the New Orleans Pelicans franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). On August 15, 2020, the New Orleans Pelicans fired head coach Alvin Gentry after five seasons with the team. On October 22, 2020, the Pelicans hired Stan Van Gundy as their new head coach, who was also fired on June 16, 2021, after just one season with the team. The Pelicans failed to qualify for the postseason for the third consecutive season following a loss to the Dallas Mavericks on May 12, 2021.

Following the season, the Pelicans and head coach Stan Van Gundy mutually agreed to part ways.

Draft
After their March 11, 2020 game against the Sacramento Kings was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns with a referee, the Pelicans and Kings were stuck with a tied record for the best odds at the #12 pick of the 2020 NBA draft during the Suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season. However, as one of the teams invited to the 2020 NBA Bubble, it gave them a chance to move their selection up with a potential playoff spot earned there. Due to poor performances in the bubble, the Pelicans failed to gain any ground there. Even worse, despite gaining an extra loss, their first-round pick moved to #13 instead due to the Kings winning their tiebreaker via March 11 records. The Pelicans also held three second-round picks, with two of the three picks acquired via a three-way trade involving the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons.

Conference
Notes
 * z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
 * c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
 * y – Clinched division title
 * x – Clinched playoff spot
 * pb – Clinched play-in spot
 * o – Eliminated from playoff contention
 * * – Division leader

Preseason

 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 1
 * December 11
 * @ Miami
 * Zion Williamson (26)
 * Zion Williamson (11)
 * Brandon Ingram (6)
 * AmericanAirlines Arena 0
 * 1–0
 * -style="background:#cfc;
 * 2
 * December 18
 * vs Milwaukee
 * Zion Williamson (31)
 * Adams, Williamson (9)
 * Lonzo Ball (8)
 * Smoothie King Center 0
 * 2–0
 * Smoothie King Center 0
 * 2–0

Regular season

 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 1
 * December 23
 * @ Toronto
 * Brandon Ingram (24)
 * Zion Williamson (10)
 * Brandon Ingram (11)
 * Amalie Arena 0
 * 1–0
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 2
 * December 25
 * @ Miami
 * Zion Williamson (32)
 * Zion Williamson (14)
 * Ball, Bledsoe (6)
 * American Airlines Arena Limited seating
 * 1–1
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 3
 * December 27
 * San Antonio
 * Brandon Ingram (28)
 * Brandon Ingram (11)
 * Brandon Ingram (6)
 * Smoothie King Center Limited seating
 * 2–1
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 4
 * December 29
 * @ Phoenix
 * Zion Williamson (20)
 * Adams, Melli (8)
 * Brandon Ingram (6)
 * PHX Arena 0
 * 2–2
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 5
 * December 31
 * @ Oklahoma City
 * Brandon Ingram (12)
 * Steven Adams (10)
 * Lonzo Ball (9)
 * Chesapeake Energy Arena 0
 * 3–2
 * Brandon Ingram (12)
 * Steven Adams (10)
 * Lonzo Ball (9)
 * Chesapeake Energy Arena 0
 * 3–2


 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 6
 * January 2
 * Toronto
 * Brandon Ingram (31)
 * Steven Adams (10)
 * Eric Bledsoe (10)
 * Smoothie King Center Limited seating
 * 4–2
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 7
 * January 4
 * Indiana
 * Brandon Ingram (31)
 * Eric Bledsoe (11)
 * Brandon Ingram (8)
 * Smoothie King Center Limited seating
 * 4–3
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 8
 * January 6
 * Oklahoma City
 * Zion Williamson (29)
 * Adams, Ingram (11)
 * Steven Adams (10)
 * Smoothie King Center Limited seating
 * 4–4
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 9
 * January 8
 * Charlotte
 * Zion Williamson (26)
 * Hart, Ingram, Williamson (8)
 * Brandon Ingram (8)
 * Smoothie King Center Limited seating
 * 4–5
 * -style="background:#ccc;"
 * January 11
 * @ Dallas
 * colspan="6" | Postponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: May 12)
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 10
 * January 13
 * @ L. A. Clippers
 * Nickeil Alexander-Walker (37)
 * Jaxson Hayes (10)
 * Steven Adams (15)
 * Staples Center 0
 * 4–6
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 11
 * January 15
 * @ L. A. Lakers
 * Zion Williamson (21)
 * Zion Williamson (12)
 * Brandon Ingram (5)
 * Staples Center 0
 * 4–7
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 12
 * January 17
 * @ Sacramento
 * Zion Williamson (31)
 * Steven Adams (15)
 * Alexander-Walker, Lewis Jr. (5)
 * Golden 1 Center 0
 * 5–7
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 13
 * January 19
 * @ Utah
 * Zion Williamson (32)
 * Zion Williamson (9)
 * Ball, Ingram (4)
 * Vivint Smart Home Arena Limited seating
 * 5–8
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 14
 * January 21
 * @ Utah
 * Zion Williamson (27)
 * Steven Adams (16)
 * Lonzo Ball (5)
 * Vivint Smart Home Arena Limited seating
 * 5–9
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 15
 * January 23
 * @ Minnesota
 * Brandon Ingram (30)
 * Zion Williamson (11)
 * Lonzo Ball (7)
 * Target Center 0
 * 5–10
 * -style="background:#ccc;"
 * January 25
 * San Antonio
 * colspan="6" | Postponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: April 24)
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 16
 * January 27
 * Washington
 * Ingram, Williamson (32)
 * Steven Adams (18)
 * Brandon Ingram (8)
 * Smoothie King Center Limited seating
 * 6–10
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 17
 * January 29
 * Milwaukee
 * Brandon Ingram (28)
 * Steven Adams (20)
 * Lonzo Ball (8)
 * Smoothie King Center Limited seating
 * 7–10
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 18
 * January 30
 * Houston
 * Zion Williamson (26)
 * Lonzo Ball (8)
 * Eric Bledsoe (5)
 * Smoothie King Center Limited seating
 * 7–11
 * Brandon Ingram (28)
 * Steven Adams (20)
 * Lonzo Ball (8)
 * Smoothie King Center Limited seating
 * 7–10
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 18
 * January 30
 * Houston
 * Zion Williamson (26)
 * Lonzo Ball (8)
 * Eric Bledsoe (5)
 * Smoothie King Center Limited seating
 * 7–11
 * 7–11


 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 19
 * February 1
 * Sacramento
 * Brandon Ingram (20)
 * Josh Hart (13)
 * Lonzo Ball (5)
 * Smoothie King Center 1,440
 * 7–12
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 20
 * February 3
 * Phoenix
 * Zion Williamson (28)
 * Steven Adams (13)
 * Ingram, Williamson (6)
 * Smoothie King Center 1,440
 * 8–12
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 21
 * February 5
 * @ Indiana
 * Brandon Ingram (30)
 * Steven Adams (12)
 * Brandon Ingram (7)
 * Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
 * 9–12
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 22
 * February 6
 * Memphis
 * Zion Williamson (29)
 * Brandon Ingram (12)
 * Lonzo Ball (7)
 * Smoothie King Center 1,440
 * 10–12
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 23
 * February 9
 * Houston
 * Brandon Ingram (22)
 * Josh Hart (17)
 * Zion Williamson (7)
 * Smoothie King Center 1,900
 * 11–12
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 24
 * February 10
 * @ Chicago
 * Zion Williamson (29)
 * Adams, Hart (6)
 * Lonzo Ball (7)
 * United Center 0
 * 11–13
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 25
 * February 12
 * @ Dallas
 * Zion Williamson (36)
 * Willy Hernangómez (9)
 * Lonzo Ball (7)
 * American Airlines Center Limited seating
 * 11–14
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 26
 * February 14
 * @ Detroit
 * Ingram, Williamson (26)
 * Steven Adams (12)
 * Brandon Ingram (7)
 * Little Caesars Arena 0
 * 11–15
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 27
 * February 16
 * @ Memphis
 * Zion Williamson (31)
 * Josh Hart (9)
 * Brandon Ingram (7)
 * FedEx Forum 1,982
 * 12–15
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 28
 * February 17
 * Portland
 * Zion Williamson (36)
 * Willy Hernangómez (17)
 * Brandon Ingram (6)
 * Smoothie King Center 1,940
 * 12–16
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 29
 * February 19
 * Phoenix
 * Brandon Ingram (25)
 * Willy Hernangómez (13)
 * Lonzo Ball (12)
 * Smoothie King Center 1,940
 * 12–17
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 30
 * February 21
 * Boston
 * Brandon Ingram (33)
 * Willy Hernangómez (13)
 * Ball, Williamson (4)
 * Smoothie King Center 1,940
 * 13–17
 * -style="background:#cfc"
 * 31
 * February 24
 * Detroit
 * Zion Williamson (32)
 * Steven Adams (15)
 * Ball, Ingram (8)
 * Smoothie King Center 2,700
 * 14–17
 * -style="background:#fcc"
 * 32
 * February 25
 * @ Milwaukee
 * Zion Williamson (34)
 * Steven Adams (13)
 * Lonzo Ball (8)
 * Fiserv Forum 1,800
 * 14–18
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 33
 * February 27
 * @ San Antonio
 * Brandon Ingram (29)
 * Zion Williamson (14)
 * Ingram, Williamson (5)
 * AT&T Center 0
 * 14–19
 * Zion Williamson (34)
 * Steven Adams (13)
 * Lonzo Ball (8)
 * Fiserv Forum 1,800
 * 14–18
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 33
 * February 27
 * @ San Antonio
 * Brandon Ingram (29)
 * Zion Williamson (14)
 * Ingram, Williamson (5)
 * AT&T Center 0
 * 14–19
 * 14–19


 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 34
 * March 1
 * Utah
 * Ingram, Williamson (26)
 * Steven Adams (11)
 * Lonzo Ball (8)
 * Smoothie King Center 2,700
 * 15–19
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 35
 * March 3
 * Chicago
 * Zion Williamson (28)
 * Zion Williamson (9)
 * Eric Bledsoe (10)
 * Smoothie King Center 2,700
 * 15–20
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 36
 * March 4
 * Miami
 * Brandon Ingram (17)
 * Josh Hart (8)
 * Brandon Ingram (9)
 * Smoothie King Center 2,700
 * 15–21
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 37
 * March 11
 * Minnesota
 * Zion Williamson (24)
 * Josh Hart (13)
 * Lonzo Ball (7)
 * Smoothie King Center 3,700
 * 15–22
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 38
 * March 12
 * Cleveland
 * Brandon Ingram (28)
 * Steven Adams (17)
 * Lonzo Ball (6)
 * Smoothie King Center 3,700
 * 16–22
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 39
 * March 14
 * L. A. Clippers
 * Zion Williamson (27)
 * Adams, Ball (8)
 * Eric Bledsoe (8)
 * Smoothie King Center 3,700
 * 17–22
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 40
 * March 16
 * @ Portland
 * Brandon Ingram (30)
 * Josh Hart (8)
 * Lonzo Ball (17)
 * Moda Center 0
 * 17–23
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 41
 * March 18
 * @ Portland
 * Zion Williamson (26)
 * Adams, Williamson (10)
 * Lonzo Ball (8)
 * Moda Center 0
 * 17–24
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 42
 * March 21
 * @ Denver
 * Ingram, Williamson (30)
 * Steven Adams (13)
 * Brandon Ingram (8)
 * Ball Arena 0
 * 18–24
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 43
 * March 23
 * L. A. Lakers
 * Brandon Ingram (36)
 * Josh Hart (15)
 * Kira Lewis (6)
 * Smoothie King Center 3,700
 * 19–24
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 44
 * March 26
 * Denver
 * Zion Williamson (39)
 * Zion Williamson (10)
 * Eric Bledsoe (9)
 * Smoothie King Center 3,700
 * 19–25
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 45
 * March 27
 * @ Dallas
 * Zion Williamson (38)
 * Josh Hart (10)
 * Zion Williamson (6)
 * Smoothie King Center 3,700
 * 20–25
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 46
 * March 29
 * @ Boston
 * Zion Williamson (28)
 * Josh Hart (15)
 * Brandon Ingram (9)
 * TD Garden 2,298
 * 21–25
 * Zion Williamson (6)
 * Smoothie King Center 3,700
 * 20–25
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 46
 * March 29
 * @ Boston
 * Zion Williamson (28)
 * Josh Hart (15)
 * Brandon Ingram (9)
 * TD Garden 2,298
 * 21–25
 * 21–25


 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 47
 * April 1
 * Orlando
 * Nickeil Alexander-Walker (31)
 * Josh Hart (17)
 * Eric Bledsoe (6)
 * Smoothie King Center 3,700
 * 21–26
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 48
 * April 2
 * Atlanta
 * Kira Lewis Jr. (21)
 * Willy Hernangómez (9)
 * James Johnson (6)
 * Smoothie King Center 3,700
 * 21–27
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 49
 * April 4
 * @ Houston
 * Lonzo Ball (27)
 * Willy Hernangómez (12)
 * Lonzo Ball (9)
 * Toyota Center 3,268
 * 22–27
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 50
 * April 6
 * @ Atlanta
 * Zion Williamson (34)
 * Ball, Marshall (9)
 * Lonzo Ball (11)
 * State Farm Arena 2,816
 * 22–28
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 51
 * April 7
 * @ Brooklyn
 * Eric Bledsoe (26)
 * Willy Hernangómez (7)
 * Johnson, Williamson (6)
 * Barclays Center 1,773
 * 22–29
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 52
 * April 9
 * Philadelphia
 * Zion Williamson (37)
 * Zion Williamson (15)
 * Zion Williamson (8)
 * Smoothie King Center 3,700
 * 23–29
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 53
 * April 11
 * @ Cleveland
 * Zion Williamson (38)
 * Zion Williamson (9)
 * Brandon Ingram (8)
 * Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 4,148
 * 24–29
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 54
 * April 12
 * Sacramento
 * Brandon Ingram (34)
 * Steven Adams (16)
 * Brandon Ingram (7)
 * Smoothie King Center 3,700
 * 25–29
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 55
 * April 14
 * New York
 * Brandon Ingram (28)
 * Steven Adams (10)
 * Ingram, Williamson (7)
 * Smoothie King Center 3,700
 * 25–30
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 56
 * April 16
 * @ Washington
 * Brandon Ingram (34)
 * Steven Adams (12)
 * Naji Marshall (6)
 * Capital One Arena 0
 * 25–31
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 57
 * April 18
 * @ New York
 * Zion Williamson (34)
 * Steven Adams (14)
 * Zion Williamson (5)
 * Madison Square Garden 1,981
 * 25–32
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 58
 * April 20
 * Brooklyn
 * Zion Williamson (33)
 * Zion Williamson (7)
 * Naji Marshall (7)
 * Smoothie King Center 3,700
 * 25–33
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 59
 * April 22
 * @ Orlando
 * Brandon Ingram (29)
 * Willy Hernangómez (12)
 * Lonzo Ball (12)
 * Amway Center 3,411
 * 26–33
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 60
 * April 24
 * San Antonio
 * Zion Williamson (33)
 * Zion Williamson (14)
 * Brandon Ingram (6)
 * Smoothie King Center 3,700
 * 26–34
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 61
 * April 26
 * L. A. Clippers
 * Zion Williamson (23)
 * Willy Hernangómez (10)
 * Lonzo Ball (7)
 * Smoothie King Center 3,700
 * 27–34
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 62
 * April 28
 * @ Denver
 * Brandon Ingram (27)
 * Lonzo Ball (12)
 * Lonzo Ball (12)
 * Ball Arena 4,022
 * 27–35
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 63
 * April 29
 * @ Oklahoma City
 * Zion Williamson (27)
 * Ball, Hernangómez (10)
 * Ball, Williamson (6)
 * Chesapeake Energy Arena 0
 * 28–35
 * @ Denver
 * Brandon Ingram (27)
 * Lonzo Ball (12)
 * Lonzo Ball (12)
 * Ball Arena 4,022
 * 27–35
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 63
 * April 29
 * @ Oklahoma City
 * Zion Williamson (27)
 * Ball, Hernangómez (10)
 * Ball, Williamson (6)
 * Chesapeake Energy Arena 0
 * 28–35
 * Chesapeake Energy Arena 0
 * 28–35


 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 64
 * May 1
 * @ Minnesota
 * Zion Williamson (37)
 * Lonzo Ball (11)
 * Ball, Williamson (8)
 * Target Center 1,638
 * 29–35
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 65
 * May 3
 * Golden State
 * Zion Williamson (32)
 * Zion Williamson (8)
 * Lonzo Ball (8)
 * Smoothie King Center 3,700
 * 29–36
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 66
 * May 5
 * Golden State
 * Lonzo Ball (33)
 * Zion Williamson (12)
 * Zion Williamson (7)
 * Smoothie King Center 3,700
 * 30–36
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 67
 * May 7
 * @ Philadelphia
 * Jaxson Hayes (19)
 * Willy Hernangómez (9)
 * Hernangómez, Marshall (5)
 * Wells Fargo Center 5,119
 * 30–37
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 68
 * May 9
 * @ Charlotte
 * Eric Bledsoe (24)
 * Willy Hernangómez (16)
 * Eric Bledsoe (11)
 * Spectrum Center 4,196
 * 31–37
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 69
 * May 10
 * @ Memphis
 * Nickeil Alexander-Walker (18)
 * Naji Marshall (11)
 * Nickeil Alexander-Walker (6)
 * FedExForum 2,507
 * 31–38
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 70
 * May 12
 * @ Dallas
 * Bledsoe, Hayes (15)
 * Willy Hernangómez (10)
 * Eric Bledsoe (4)
 * American Airlines Center 4,373
 * 31–39
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 71
 * May 14
 * @ Golden State
 * Nickeil Alexander-Walker (30)
 * Naji Marshall (13)
 * Alexander-Walker, Bledsoe (4)
 * Chase Center 4,155
 * 31–40
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 72
 * May 16
 * L. A. Lakers
 * Willy Hernangómez (19)
 * Willy Hernangómez (13)
 * Naji Marshall (7)
 * Smoothie King Center 3,700
 * 31–41
 * 72
 * May 16
 * L. A. Lakers
 * Willy Hernangómez (19)
 * Willy Hernangómez (13)
 * Naji Marshall (7)
 * Smoothie King Center 3,700
 * 31–41
 * 31–41