The New Orleans Pelicans will host the Washington Wizards on Friday night time on the Smoothie King Middle in a showdown between the groups of their respective conferences’ basements.
The Pelicans are driving an 11-game dropping streak, together with seven straight at dwelling, whereas the Wizards have not gained on the highway of their final 12 makes an attempt. It is the resistible drive towards the transferring object, and we are able to solely think about who will prevail.
José Alvarado is again
Pelicans followers have not had a lot to cheer for this season, so the return of favourite Jose Alvarado is one thing to applaud. Alvarado has been out since Nov. 11 with a proper hamstring pressure and has missed 23 video games whereas recovering. Nonetheless, he says he is able to convey his inexhaustible vitality again to the sector.
“I’ll play tomorrow, for certain,” Alvarado mentioned after the crew’s observe Thursday. “Little question. I am excited simply to place the jersey again on and go on the market and hoop, man. I can lastly turn out to be Jose.
Alvarado’s return could not come at a greater time for a Pelicans crew that continues to be decimated by accidents and will present some much-needed aid within the backcourt for Dejounte Muray. Zion Williamson (hamstring), Brandon Ingram (ankle) and Karlo Matkovic (again) are all nonetheless out, whereas Jeremiah Robinson-Earl is questionable with a sprained ankle.
The Pelicans’ lack of depth has been evident all through the season, however Alvarado’s defensive tenacity and skill to create rhythm on offense could possibly be simply what New Orleans wants to finish its slide.
Battle of the recruits: Missi versus Sarr
One of the vital intriguing matchups of the night time will function two of the NBA’s finest rookies, Yves Missi of the Pelicans and Alexandre Sarr of the Wizards.
Missi, the reigning Western Convention Rookie of the Month, has exceeded all expectations for New Orleans. The twenty first total choose leads all rookies in double-doubles and whole rebounds, and his capability to crash the boards and defend the paint has been a brilliant spot in an in any other case terrible season.
On the opposite facet, Sarr, the Jap Convention Rookie of the Month and No. 2 total choose, brings the Wizards athleticism and rim safety. He is averaging 11.6 factors, 6.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks this season and is coming off a double-double with 11 factors and 10 rebounds towards the Chicago Bulls. Over his final 10 video games, he’s capturing 45.7% from past the arc, making greater than two makes per recreation.
Each rookies have been standouts on their respective groups, and Friday’s recreation will give followers a preview of what may turn out to be a marquee matchup for years to come back.
The return of Jonas Valančiūnas
The sport additionally marks the return of one other fan favourite to New Orleans. Veteran middle Jonas Valančiūnas spent three seasons with the Pelicans earlier than being traded to Washington final offseason. Throughout his time in New Orleans, Valančiūnas averaged 14.6 factors and 10.1 rebounds, whereas showing in 235 of 246 video games and offering stability within the frontcourt.
Valančiūnas, the topic of many commerce rumors, has been stable for the Wizards this season, however his former teammates will look to make his return a dropping one. His presence provides an attention-grabbing layer to a recreation with lottery implications higher than these of the playoffs.
What’s at stake?
Nothing, besides two lengthy dropping streaks and ping-pong balls for the lottery. A pair of wins on this home-and-home collection would give the Pelicans a successful streak, however they’d additionally give Washington some respiration room within the race for the worst file within the league — a distinction that comes with prime positioning .
For New Orleans, the main target is solely on successful. It has been nearly a month for the reason that Pelicans final gained a recreation and the followers deserve higher.
Traits and statistics
The Pelicans are averaging 112.0 factors per recreation over their final 10 video games, however total the Pels nonetheless rank twenty ninth within the NBA in offense (107.0), protection (118, 3) and in web score (-11.3). Alternatively, the Wizards have managed to win three of their final 10 video games, together with two towards the modest Charlotte Hornets (7-25).
New Orleans wants one other good recreation from Trey Murphy, who’s coming off his second 30-point recreation of the season. Over his final 5 video games, Murphy has averaged 25.8 factors, good for seventeenth within the league. Over his final 10 video games, he’s averaging 24.5 factors, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steals, making Trey certainly one of seven gamers with that stat line. His continued development is as necessary as any win or loss for the remainder of the season.
Jordan Poole has been simply as sizzling, if not hotter. Since December 7 (9 video games), the previous champion is averaging 25.0 factors, 4.7 assists and 1.4 steals whereas capturing 41.5% from past the three-point line. Poole scored 30 or extra factors in three video games, together with Washington’s win over the Bulls. He has made at the least 5 three-pointers in 5 consecutive video games.
The necessities
Earn. Please. Simply win.
Most up-to-date beginning lineups
| Miami Warmth | New Orleans Pelicans |
| G – Carlton Carrington | G – Dejounte Murray |
| G-Bilal Coulibaly | G – CJ McCollum |
| F – Jordan Poole | F-Herb Jones |
| F-Justin Champagnie | F-Trey Murphy |
| C-Alexandre Sarr | C-Yves Missi |
Accidents
Wizards of Washington: Marvin Bagley III (proper knee sprain), Saddiq Bey (left knee ACL surgical procedure) and Bilal Coulibaly (non-Covid sickness) are OUT.
New Orleans Pelicans: Jose Alvarado (left hamstring pressure) is PROBABLE. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (sprained left ankle) is QUESTIONABLE. Brandon Ingram (left ankle sprain), Karlo Matkovic (decrease again disc protrusion) and Zion Williamson (left hamstring sprain) are OUT.
WHO: New Orleans Pelicans (5-29) vs. Washington Wizards (6-25)
Season Sequence:
- January 3: Pelicans vs. Wizards
- January 5: Pelicans at Wizards
Historical past of the collection: The Pelicans are 21-24 towards the Washington Wizards all-time and have gained 4 of their final 5 towards Washington. New Orleans swept the collection final season.
Or: Smoothie King Middle
When: January 3, 7:00 p.m. CST
The place to look at: Gulf Coast Sports activities and Leisure Community, Pelicans+
The place to hear: WWL Radio 870 AM
For extra content material, go to Sports activities HITP on YouTube or Sports activities HITP on-line.
LEARN MORE
- Can the Pelicans discover a match for Brandon Ingram earlier than the commerce deadline?
- Pelicans middle Yves Missi named Western Convention rookie of the month
- Rumors: Are Pelicans closing in on Brandon Ingram commerce?
- Pelicans lose to Warmth, tie franchise file for consecutive highway losses
- Pelicans head to Miami to keep away from matching franchise-record highway dropping streak
- Pelicans’ dropping streak extends to worst 10 video games of season after shut loss to Clippers
- Pelicans look to finish 9-game slide towards Clippers in Monday night time showdown
- Trey Murphy shines, however Pelicans stumble towards Grizzlies 132-124
- Dejounte Murray is having his worst season ever, what can the Pelicans do?
- Pelicans return from trip to face red-hot Rockets
- Pelicans turnovers result in 104-93 loss, dropping streak prolonged to 6 in a row
- The Reeling Pelicans start 5 dwelling video games towards the Knicks
- Pelicans lengthen highway dropping streak to 14, slammed by Rockets 133-113
- The Pelicans look to finish a 4-game dropping streak towards division rival Rockets
- Pelicans roster overhaul looms as crew faces accidents, trades and contract challenges
- With season in ruins, Pelicans reportedly open to procuring Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram
- The Pelicans lose for the fourth time in a row and lose to the Pacers 119-104
- Late rallies aren’t sufficient, Pelicans lose heartbroken 111-109 to Kings
- Misplaced in one other disappointing season, Pelicans search for path ahead
- Pelicans fail to get any nearer in San Antonio, lengthen highway dropping streak to 12 with loss to Spurs
- The Pelicans are rolled by the Thunder, fall 119-109
- Pelicans look to finish 9-game skid as Suns go to Smoothie King Middle
- It is time for the Pelicans to finish the Williamson/Ingram period that by no means was.
- Spiraling Pelicans hope to finish dropping streak towards surging Hawks
- Brandon Ingram joins Klutch Sports activities, uncertainty surrounds Pelicans’ future
