If you're a sports fan in New Orleans, you should've known a night like Wednesday was probably too good to be true.
There's just no way things could really be as perfect as the Smoothie King Center scoreboard and the stat sheet indicated.
Chances are, you left the arena highly optimistic about this season after the way the Pelicans handled the Chicago Bulls 123-111 in the season-opening victory.
And you should have felt that way after seeing the Pelicans win like this with their best player not even in the building because he was dealing with an illness.
No Zion Williamson. No problem.
Brandon Ingram poured in 33 points and CJ McCollum had 23, picking up the slack in Williamson's absence.
On the other end of the court, there was a stifling defense that turned up the heat in the third quarter to create one turnover after another as the Pels outscored the Bulls 36-25.
Rookie Yves Missi scored 12 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and blocked 3 shots in his NBA debut, perhaps answering the Pelicans' concerns about the center position much sooner than anyone expected.
And then there was Dejounte Murray, doing just what the Pelicans brought him to New Orleans for by running the offense and finishing with 14 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds.
But by the time those same fans made it home, there came a dose of that back-to-earth news that fans in this city know all too well.
Murray fractured his left hand during the game, ESPN first reported shortly after the game. Imaging done late Wednesday night confirmed that it was indeed a fracture, which means Murray will miss some time.
It's the latest blow for a fanbase that has suffered through the injury-filled years of Williamson and Ingram. A franchise that just can't seem to shake injuries now has a significant one just one game into the season.
Before the game, Pelicans' coach Willie Green discussed Williamson's absence. Green's words could also apply to this latest news about Murray.
"It's a long season and here we are Game One already with a bit of adversity," Green said prior to tip-off. "It's next man up. Let's be ready. When it's all said and done, just compete your behinds off and we can all live with that."
No fanbase has heard "Next man up" more than Pelicans' fans. (Ok, maybe the NFL team that plays in that giant Dome across the street).
But here the Pelicans are already in "next man up" mode and having to replace Murray, one of just 8 players in the NBA to average 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists each of the last three seasons.
The Pelicans traded for Murray this offseason so he could be the glue for this team. He was the guy who would steer the offense and make sure they don't collapse late in games like they so often did last season.
Now that burden shifts back to Williamson, Ingram and McCollum.
The silver lining is the Pelicans have a deep roster that can probably keep things afloat in Murray's absence. Coming into the season, Green talked about the different lineup combinations he could possibly use. He'll get to put that exercise to use quicker than he wanted to. The starting lineup Wednesday was Murray, McCollum, Ingram, Herb Jones and Daniel Theis. Green can just plug Williamson in for Murray in the starting lineup for the upcoming road trip that includes a pair of games against Portland and Golden State.
Players know the show must go on.
"You just control what you can control," McCollum said. "I just worry about today. Tomorrow has enough problems."
If you're a Pelicans' fan, you know that all too well.