Brandon Ingram scores 33, and the Pelicans beat the Bulls 123-111 without Zion Williamson

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — 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.

Newly-acquired point guard Dejounte Murray had 14 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in his Pelicans debut, but injured his left hand in the fourth quarter. CJ McCollum scored 23 for New Orleans.

Williamson was ruled out shortly before the game because of an illness, marking his 207th missed regular-season game since he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2019.

Zach LaVine scored 27 points, and Nikola Vucevic had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulls, who trailed for most of the second half and by as many as 16 points in the fourth quarter.

Jalen Smith scored 15 points, and Josh Giddey added 14 points for Chicago.

Jordan Hawkins scored 13 for the Pelicans.

New Orleans might be able to rely on their first-round pick, 7-footer Yves Missi, more than initially thought. Missi was considered too raw to play significant minutes early this season when he was drafted 21st overall out of Baylor in June. But missing their top front-court player in Williamson, the Pelicans played Missi 23 minutes and he was effective, finishing with 12 points, seven rebounds three blocks and a steal.

When Missi walked to the bench with 4:20 left, he received a standing ovation.

Ingram's third 3 of the game gave the Pelicans a 107-92 lead and capped a pivotal 13-2 run during which Ingram scored eight points, including another 3 and two free throws.

Chicago turned the ball over 21 times, leading to 30 Pelicans points. LeVine committed seven turnovers.

The Bulls visit Milwaukee on Friday, the same day the Pelicans open a four-game trip at Portland.

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New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram dives for a loose ball against Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) goes to the basket between Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9) and guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (5) goes to the basket between Chicago Bulls forward Jalen Smith (7) and guard Josh Giddey (3) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (5) loses the ball as he drives to the basket against Chicago Bulls forward Jalen Smith in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) pulls down the ball against Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins (24) blocks a shot by Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram dives for a loose ball against Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) goes to the basket against Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran wants to negotiate with Washington after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic over its bloody crackdown on protesters, a move coming as activists said Monday the death toll in the nationwide demonstrations rose to at least 544.

Iran had no immediate reaction to the news, which came after the foreign minister of Oman — long an interlocutor between Washington and Tehran — traveled to Iran this weekend. It also remains unclear just what Iran could promise, particularly as Trump has set strict demands over its nuclear program and its ballistic missile arsenal, which Tehran insists is crucial for its national defense.

Meanwhile Monday, Iran called for pro-government demonstrators to head to the streets in support of the theocracy, a show of force after days of protests directly challenging the rule of 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state television aired chants from the crowd, who shouted “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!”

Trump and his national security team have been weighing a range of potential responses against Iran including cyberattacks and direct strikes by the U.S. or Israel, according to two people familiar with internal White House discussions who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

“The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday night. Asked about Iran’s threats of retaliation, he said: “If they do that, we will hit them at levels that they’ve never been hit before.”

Trump said that his administration was in talks to set up a meeting with Tehran, but cautioned that he may have to act first as reports of the death toll in Iran mount and the government continues to arrest protesters.

“I think they’re tired of being beat up by the United States,” Trump said. “Iran wants to negotiate.”

He added: “The meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what’s happening before the meeting. But a meeting is being set up. Iran called, they want to negotiate.”

Iran through country's parliamentary speaker warned Sunday that the U.S. military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if America uses force to protect demonstrators.

More than 10,600 people also have been detained over the two weeks of protests, said the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in previous unrest in recent years and gave the death toll. It relies on supporters in Iran crosschecking information. It said 496 of the dead were protesters and 48 were with security forces.

With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the toll. Iran’s government has not offered overall casualty figures.

Those abroad fear the information blackout is emboldening hard-liners within Iran’s security services to launch a bloody crackdown. Protesters flooded the streets in the country’s capital and its second-largest city on Saturday night into Sunday morning. Online videos purported to show more demonstrations Sunday night into Monday, with a Tehran official acknowledging them in state media.

In Tehran, a witness told the AP that the streets of the capital empty at the sunset call to prayers each night. By the Isha, or nighttime prayer, the streets are deserted.

Part of that stems from the fear of getting caught in the crackdown. Police sent the public a text message that warned: “Given the presence of terrorist groups and armed individuals in some gatherings last night and their plans to cause death, and the firm decision to not tolerate any appeasement and to deal decisively with the rioters, families are strongly advised to take care of their youth and teenagers.”

Another text, which claimed to come from the intelligence arm of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, also directly warned people not to take part in demonstrations.

“Dear parents, in view of the enemy’s plan to increase the level of naked violence and the decision to kill people, ... refrain from being on the streets and gathering in places involved in violence, and inform your children about the consequences of cooperating with terrorist mercenaries, which is an example of treason against the country,” the text warned.

The witness spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing crackdown.

The demonstrations began Dec. 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency, which trades at over 1.4 million to $1, as the country’s economy is squeezed by international sanctions in part levied over its nuclear program. The protests intensified and grew into calls directly challenging Iran’s theocracy.

Nikhinson reported from aboard Air Force One.

In this frame grab from video obtained by the AP outside Iran, a masked demonstrator holds a picture of Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during a protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, January. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)

In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran shows protesters taking to the streets despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.(UGC via AP)

In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran showed protesters once again taking to the streets of Tehran despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (UGC via AP)