76ers Vs Pelicans: Momentum at Stake as Philadelphia Falls to New Orleans, Fourth Straight Loss

Momentum shifted in a hurry during the 76ers vs pelicans matchup, and the immediate consequence is pressure on Philadelphia's standing and rhythm. The Joel Embiid-less 76ers suffered a fourth straight loss, falling 126-111 after New Orleans outscored them 60-35 in the final 21 minutes. The result leaves Philly clinging to sixth place in the Eastern Conference while New Orleans closed the night with a decisive late surge.

Momentum check: 76ers vs pelicans and Philly's four-game slide

Here's the part that matters: the 76ers led from late in the first quarter until the final two minutes of the third, at one point up by 11, but could not withstand New Orleans' run. The late collapse—a 60-35 edge for the Pelicans in the closing 21 minutes—turns what looked like a holdable game into a definitive loss and extends Philadelphia's losing streak to four games. Philadelphia remains in the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference standings.

How the game swung in the final 21 minutes

New Orleans chipped away through the second half and seized control late. Jeremiah Fears' free throws reclaimed the lead at 91-89. Karlo Matkovic followed with a corner 3 and made three free throws after being fouled on another deep attempt, contributing nine points during what was described as a 40-point period for the Pelicans. By the end of three quarters New Orleans led 97-91, then opened the fourth on a 23-8 run capped by Jordan Poole's 3 that made it 120-99 with 5: 20 left—effectively squelching any realistic comeback.

Stat lines and shooting breakdown

• Final score: Pelicans 126, Sixers 111.
• Leading scorers: Jordan Poole 23 points (five 3-pointers); Tyrese Maxey 27; Kelly Oubre Jr. 25; Zion Williamson 21; Saddiq Bey 20.
• Rebounds/Defense: DeAndre Jordan 15 rebounds and 4 blocked shots in 32 minutes.
• Supporting Pelicans: Herb Jones 14 points; Bryce McGowens 13; Karlo Matkovic finished with 12 points.
• Shooting splits: Pelicans combined to make 17 three-pointers and shot 50% from deep; Philadelphia shot 31. 4% in the second half and missed 21 of 24 three-point attempts after halftime.

Player notes and oddities from the night

DeAndre Jordan, who had appeared in just two games this season and had not played since Oct. 29, logged 32 minutes and made his defensive presence felt with 15 rebounds and four blocks. VJ Edgecombe scored 14 for Philadelphia. What’s easy to miss is the contrast between the Pelicans’ hot perimeter shooting—17 threes total—and Philadelphia’s collapse from long range after halftime.

• Matkovic's mini-spurt: nine points within a 40-point span for New Orleans, including a corner 3 plus three free throws after a deep-shot foul.
• Poole’s late 3 at 5: 20 left in the fourth pushed the lead to 21 and effectively ended Philadelphia’s comeback chances.

Jeremiah Fears gave Kelly Oubre Jr. a hug after the game at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Feb. 21, 2026.

• Philadelphia’s immediate schedule pressure is heightened by the streak; New Orleans will host Golden State on Tuesday night.

Key takeaways:

• New Orleans’ deep shooting (17 threes) and a dominant late stretch swung the game decisively.
• Philadelphia’s long-range collapse after halftime (21-of-24 misses) explains the scoring gap in the final 21 minutes.
• DeAndre Jordan’s extended minutes and defensive presence were notable after limited earlier-season appearances.
• The result keeps Philadelphia at sixth in the East but magnifies concerns about momentum and consistency.

Short timeline and immediate signals

Feb. 21, 2026 — Game at the Smoothie King Center ended Pelicans 126, Sixers 111; Updated on: February 21, 2026 / 10: 47 PM EST. Oct. 29 — last recorded game appearance for DeAndre Jordan before this night. The real question now is whether Philadelphia can halt the slide before the next stretch of matchups reshapes seeding pressure.

The bigger signal here is how quickly a single hot stretch from New Orleans erased Philadelphia’s lead; that dynamic will be telling in upcoming games as both teams test depth and resilience.