To be clear, tonight is just the beginning of the Won’t Bow Down era — even though I’m still not exactly sure what that means. Win or lose, New Orleans 2019-20 campaign, and likely the next few seasons that follow, will not be defined by whether the Pelicans kick off the schedule 1-0 or 0-1.
But man, tonight sure looked to be theirs.
Until it wasn’t.
The Pelicans let their season opener slip away in Toronto, as the defending champion Raptors first received their rings and hung their banner and then proceeded to beat New Orleans 130-122 in overtime.