Tuesday morning felt like Groundhog Day for fans of the New Orleans Pelicans. Fans mad about coaching, the team in the midst of a losing streak and Zion Williamson with a surprise injury that could keep him out for weeks.

Just a few hours later, they got a glimpse at the future as Derik Queen played a sensational fourth quarter en route to the Pelicans' first win of the season, taking down the Charlotte Hornets by a score of 116-112.

This was a career night for Queen, much needed in the wake of many conversations about his playtime.

Willie Green has made it clear. He's not going to gift Queen any minutes this season. Even in the wake of the Yves Missi illness that thinned out the front court, Karlo Matkovic was the first player off the bench.

The rookie is going to need to make it impossible to take him off the court. That's what he did tonight. Queen had an efficient 12 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals.

Back on media day, he told us that general manager Joe Dumars sends him Instagram reels of Domantas Sabonis and Alperen Sengun. The modern playmaking big. If Queen can do that, then he'll be worth that unprotected first-round pick that they gave up to get him.

This was the first time we really saw his playmaking shine, and the offense looked great with it. He was a +13 on the night in 18 minutes.

He should feel the full weight of this win, because it would not have happened without him. Jose Alvarado is in that same boat.

Alvarado was the heart and soul of this team tonight. Another player who has seen inconsistent minutes. He had 18 points, three rebounds, six assists and two steals in 31 minutes. He also hit the big three to give New Orleans the late lead over the Hornets.

The team as a whole saw the process that needs to happen to win games. Guys like Saddiq Bey and Karlo Matkovic played fantastic basketball with great effort. Trey Murphy and Herb Jones played like the players that the Pelicans have paid them to be.

Murphy is another star who really needed tonight. Nights where the team gets 5-of-10 from beyond the three-point line and limited mistakes feel like they are hard to lose.

New Orleans finally has a win to celebrate, but it feels like multiple in the same night.