Not exactly the postgame reaction Bulls fans want to hear after the first game, but against a shorthanded Pelicans team playing without Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III, the Bulls assembled a sloppy offensive performance marred by 21 turnovers that led to 30 Pelicans points.

The New Orleans Pelicans announced star forward Zion Williamson will miss their opener Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls with an illness. Head coach

Brandon Ingram scored 33 points, icing the game with a baseline turnaround jumper with 1:46 to go, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame Zion Williamson's absence to defeat the Chicago Bulls 123-111 on Wednesday night in both clubs' season opener.

He made his season debut against the New Orleans Pelicans, checking into the game with 6:14 left in the first quarter. Playing on a minutes restriction (16 per game), Ball replaced Josh Giddey. Ball played 3 minutes, 16 seconds before being replaced by Talen Horton-Tucker with 2:58 left in the first.

Ball played 13 minutes and 39 seconds in his return to live action, and by and large, he looked like his old self in a 123-111 loss for Chicago. He quickly drained a 3-pointer upon entering the game, and in his second stint later on, he threw a gorgeous alley-oop to Zach LaVine, one of those few returning teammates.