The Pelicans lost 145-111 at home to Brooklyn on Wednesday night. It was their fourth straight loss and the third game in a row in which they allowed at least 138 points.

On Sunday the Clippers scored 139 against them. On Monday Golden State scored 138 and won by 51, the worst regular-season loss in franchise history. Brooklyn came into Wednesday at 2-8.

Points allowed, last three games

It did not start this way. New Orleans lost its first four games by a combined 23 points, three of them by six or fewer, then won four in a row, two of them in overtime.

After the fourth win, 120-113 in overtime against Utah on Nov. 4, the Pelicans were 4-4. They have not won since.

Margin in each game, in order

Through nine games the Pelicans allowed 118.8 points a game and still outscored opponents by 13. Those opponents shot 47.2 percent and made 31.2 percent of their threes.

In the last three, the Clippers, Warriors and Nets made 57 of 123 threes. They also got to the line more and owned the glass: New Orleans was outrebounded 128-94.

Opponents’ three-point percentage

Points allowed per game

Earlier in the season the Pelicans had one problem quarter. Over the first nine games they were plus-35 in third quarters and minus-41 in fourth quarters.

On Oct. 24 in Denver they led by 19 after three quarters, lost the fourth 37-18 and then lost 141-135 in overtime.

Margin by quarter, first nine games

In the last three games they did not win any of their 12 quarters; two at the Clippers were tied. Opponents scored at least 35 in nine of them.

Margin by quarter, last three games

The night after the loss to the Clippers, New Orleans played in San Francisco without Zion Williamson, who rested on the second night of the back-to-back, and without Trey Murphy III.

The Pelicans led once, 3-2. They shot 7 of 23 in the first quarter and 8 of 28 from three for the game. Golden State had 37 assists on 50 baskets and outrebounded them 50-31.

1. End of 1stWarriors 35, Pelicans 20.
2. HalftimeWarriors 72, Pelicans 43.
3. End of 3rdWarriors 112, Pelicans 65, after a 40-point third quarter.
4. 8:31 leftA De’Anthony Melton three makes it 124-73, the first 51-point lead. The game ends 138-87.

Two nights later Brooklyn scored 39 points in the first quarter and 44 in the second. Its 83 first-half points were the Nets’ most in a first half since they scored 91 against Golden State on Dec. 21, 2022.

The Nets shot 57 percent, went 20 of 41 from three with nine different players making at least one, and had eight players in double figures. Egor Demin scored 22 in his first game back after six games out with a bone bruise, and Michael Porter Jr. also scored 22.

1. End of 1stNets 39, Pelicans 25.
2. HalftimeNets 83, Pelicans 66.
3. 3rd quarterNew Orleans holds Brooklyn to 24 but scores 15. Nets 107, Pelicans 81.
4. 4th quarterA 17-1 run makes it 124-84. Brooklyn’s lead peaks at 41, and it wins 145-111.

Williamson is doing his part. He is averaging 21.7 points on 62.2 percent shooting in 11 games, scored 25 without missing a shot at the Clippers, and had 29 against Brooklyn, 12 of them at the free-throw line.

The wings around him keep disappearing. Murphy, at 15.6 points a game, has missed two straight with bilateral patellar tendinopathy. Bennedict Mathurin was ruled out on Wednesday with a thumb sprain, and Yves Missi and Trendon Watford are also out.

Points per game, 2026-27

The schedule gives New Orleans a chance to stop it in its own building: four straight home games, starting Friday. They include Denver, which beat them twice in October, and Golden State, which beat them by 51 on Monday.

Only Chicago, at 128.8, is allowing more points per game than the Pelicans’ 124.3.

1. Fri., Nov. 13Grizzlies, 8 p.m. ET (3 a.m. Saturday in Cairo). New Orleans won in Memphis 135-134 in overtime on Nov. 2.
2. Sat., Nov. 14Nuggets, 7 p.m. ET (2 a.m. Sunday in Cairo). Denver won both meetings in October.
3. Mon., Nov. 16Warriors, 8 p.m. ET (3 a.m. Tuesday in Cairo).
4. Wed., Nov. 18Pistons, 8 p.m. ET (3 a.m. Thursday in Cairo).