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Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Products Combine for 50 in Pelicans Win

New Orleans' two Duke basketball talents are sizzling thus far this season.
Matt Giles|
Former Duke basketball forward Zion Williamson (Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports)

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Duke Blue Devils

Starting forwards Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram are healthy. And their New Orleans Pelicans are 2-0 following Saturday night's 96-87 home win over the New York Knicks (1-2) and their former Duke basketball star in starting shooting guard RJ Barrett.

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The game's three NBA Blue Devils, all former top-three draft picks, accounted for almost 40 percent of the points.

Ingram tallied a game-high 26 points on 11-for-17 shooting from the field, 1-for-3 from deep, and 3-for-4 at the charity stripe. The 26-year-old, a 2020 NBA All-Star, added seven rebounds, three assists, and one steal across his 32 minutes on the floor. 

Williamson, already a two-time All-Star through the former No. 1 overall draft pick's first three years in the league despite his injury woes, finished with 24 points, five rebounds, and two assists while shooting 12-for-17 from the field in his 28 minutes of action.

As Williamson has displayed several times this season, his soft touch and creative finishing ability, not to mention his bounce, are still intact.

Check out this high-off-the-glass highlight from the 6-foot-6, 285-pound sensation:

And here's another Zion highlight, which came one minute later in the contest:

He's averaging 23.5 points through two games, and Ingram is sitting at 22.5 per game.

RELATED: List of Every Blue Devil Currently in the NBA

Meanwhile, Barrett is right there with them at 22.7 points per game for the Knicks. He scored 18 points in 30 minutes against the Pelicans, shooting 7-for-16 from the floor, 1-for-6 beyond the arc, and 3-for-4 at the line.

Afterward, Barrett and Williamson, Duke basketball teammates in their 2018-19 one-and-done campaigns, reconnected with the following on-court embrace:

Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, and the Pelicans have one day off before hosting the Golden State Warriors on Monday night.

RJ Barrett and the Knicks look to rebound on Tuesday night when they face the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road.

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Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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