DECEMBER 23, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS 11-32 · 14TH IN WESTERN CONFERENCE
11-32 · 14TH IN WESTERN CONFERENCE
Next Game vs Jazz · Tue 1:00AM
NOP -10.5 TOTAL 229.5
William Guillory: End of 1st half: Pelicans 65, Spurs 46... - The Athletic End of 1st half: Pelicans 65, Spurs 46 McCollum 13 pts, 6 rebs, 6 assts Valanciunas 10 pts, 8 rebs Jones 10 pts, 2 stls Pels held the Spurs...
William Guillory: Pelicans starters: CJ McCollum Naji Marshall... - The Athletic Pelicans starters: CJ McCollum Naji Marshall Herb Jones Trey Murphy Jonas Valanciunas
DECEMBER 23, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Naji Marshall - Starting Thursday Marshall will join the starting five for Thursday's game against the Spurs.
Impact Marshall draws the start in place of Zion Williamson (COVID protocols) and will likely see a massive workload considering Brandon Ingram (toe) and Larry Nance (Achilles) will also be sidelined. Marshall has started four games this season and has averaged 15.5 points across 36.5 minutes per game in those contests.
DECEMBER 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Larry Nance Jr. - Officially out Nance (Achilles) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Spurs.
Impact Nance will miss his second straight contest while tending to right Achilles soreness. Expect Willy Hernangomez, Jonas Valanciunas and Jaxson Hayes to see more opportunities Thursday evening in Nance's absence.
DECEMBER 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
New Orleans Pelicans vs. San Antonio Spurs Pregame Report 12/22/2022
DECEMBER 22, 2022 • YOUTUBE
Larry Nance Jr. | Pelicans vs. Spurs Shootaround 12/22/2022
DECEMBER 22, 2022 • YOUTUBE
Jonas Valanciunas | Pelicans vs. Spurs Shootaround 12/22/2022
DECEMBER 22, 2022 • YOUTUBE
How a healthy Brandon Ingram lightens the load on Zion and helps cure Pels' issues The Pelicans' recent four-game losing streak offered a clear reminder that they need Brandon Ingram to be their best selves.
DECEMBER 22, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Larry Nance Jr. - Officially questionable Thursday Nance (Achilles) is questionable to play in Thursday's game versus the Spurs.
Impact Nance missed Monday's game and was a limited practice participant Wednesday due to right Achilles soreness. Willy Hernangomez, Jonas Valanciunas and Jaxson Hayes are all candidates to see extended minutes if he's unavailable Thursday.
DECEMBER 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Pelicans: 2023 NBA All-Star Voting is Live Pelicans encouraging fans to vote their favorite Pelicans’ player in.
DECEMBER 21, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
William Guillory: Pelicans say Zion Williamson has entered Health... - The Athletic Pelicans say Zion Williamson has entered Health and Safety protocols. He's out for tomorrow's game vs San Antonio.
DECEMBER 21, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Zion Williamson - Won't play Thursday Williamson is in the NBA's health and safety protocols and won't suit up for Thursday's game versus the Spurs, Jim Eichenhofer of the Pelicans' official site reports.
Impact Williamson has been on a tear during December, averaging 28.8 points, 8.1 rebounds 5.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game, but things will hit a screeching halt as he takes a game or two off while working to clear the league's health and safety protocols. While his next chance to return arrives Friday against the Thunder, Monday versus the Pacers seems more realistic. In his absence, more minutes should be available for Naji Marshall, Larry Nance (Achilles) and other forwards.
DECEMBER 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Larry Nance Jr. - Limited in practice, status TBD Head coach Willie Green said Nance (Achilles) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, but the big man's availability for Thursday's matchup against the Spurs remains to...
Impact Nance was sidelined for Monday's loss to Milwaukee due to soreness in his Achilles, but it appears the issue isn't too severe. However, the reserve big man could be sidelined for at least one more contest. Further clarity on the situation will likely be available when the Pelicans' release their next injury report, which should occur sometime Wednesday afternoon.
DECEMBER 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Brandon Ingram - Out at least two more games Coach Willie Green said Wednesday that Ingram (toe) will be unavailable for at least two more games, Andrew Lopez of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Green indicated that Ingram has been progressing in his recovery, but the process has been slower than anticipated. As a result, the shooting guard will be sidelined for Friday's game against the Spurs and Saturday's matchup against Oklahoma City. His next opportunity to suit up will be Monday against the Pacers, but it's not yet clear whether he'll be ready for game action by then.
DECEMBER 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Pelicans take on the Spurs on 4-game skid
New Orleans will try to break its four-game slide when the New Orleans Pelicans play San AntonioDECEMBER 21, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Trey Murphy III - Decent effort Monday Murphy ended with 13 points (3-6 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 6-6 FT) and five rebounds over 28 minutes during Monday's 128-119 loss to the Bucks.
Impact Murphy didn't score a ton from the field, knocking down just three total shots, but he made up for it by getting to the free-throw line and matching his season-high output with six makes. Murphy typically does most of his damage on the defensive end of the floor for fantasy purposes, racking up 1.6 blocks-plus-steals per game, but he's infused some additional scoring in his second season (up to 12.2 points per game from 5.4 as a rookie) to garner more fantasy interest. However, Murphy's production has checked up a bit of late and figures to really stall once Brandon Ingram (toe) rejoins the fold.
DECEMBER 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Devonte' Graham - Held scoreless in limited action Graham registered zero points (0-1 FG, 0-1 3Pt) across seven minutes during Monday's 128-119 loss to the Bucks.
Impact Graham was held scoreless for the first time since Nov. 10. The backup guard has fallen behind Jose Alvarado and Dyson Daniels in the rotation, and Brandon Ingram's (toe) impending return figures to cut into Graham's already limited playing time even more. Barring a trade or numerous injuries, Graham is headed toward his first campaign under 10.0 points per game since his rookie season in Charlotte.
DECEMBER 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Gayle Benson's Christmas Spirit On Full Display This Week Gayle Benson’s has spent weeks spreading the Christmas Spirit and the Governor of the New Orleans Pelicans is not done yet.
DECEMBER 20, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
CJ McCollum - Turns back clock Monday McCollum closed Monday's 128-119 loss to the Bucks with 31 points (11-24 FG, 6-10 3Pt, 3-4 FT), eight rebounds and nine assists over 41 minutes.
Impact McCollum has been enduring a rough season and has been New Orleans' third-best scoring threat at times behind Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram (toe) when the latter is healthy, but he turned back the clock here and notched a season-best scoring mark. He's been playing very well of late and has scored at least 20 points in four of his last five outings, averaging 25.8 points per game while shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 45.9 percent from deep in that span.
DECEMBER 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Zion Williamson - Slow night against Bucks Williamson chipped in 18 points (7-16 FG, 4-8 FT), seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals in 40 minutes during Monday's 128-119 loss to the Bucks.
Impact Williamson had to deal with Giannis Antetokounmpo all game long, so that might be the explanation for why he had a rough night on both ends of the court. That said, he still ended just three rebounds and three assists shy of posting a triple-double while also ending just one steal away from tying his season-best output in that category. The former Duke star has been an absolute stud this season and is averaging 25.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game in 2022-23.
DECEMBER 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Jonas Valanciunas - Shines in loss to MIL Valanciunas contributed 37 points (14-24 FG, 7-10 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 18 rebounds, five assists and one steal over 37 minutes during Monday's 128-119 loss to the Bucks.
Impact Even though the Pelicans feature names such as Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum, it was Valanciunas who posted the biggest problems for the Bucks defense, as the veteran big man came close to tying his career-high mark in scoring while also thriving as a rebounder and playmaker. One of the best two-way big men in the league and a force to be reckoned with on offense when he gets enough touches, Valanciunas is averaging 13.7 points with 9.3 rebounds per game on the season, so chances are this game was an outlier rather than a norm going forward.
DECEMBER 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Milwaukee faces Cleveland after Antetokounmpo's 42-point performance
Milwaukee visits the Cleveland Cavaliers after Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 42 points in the Bucks' 128-119 win against the New Orleans PelicansDECEMBER 20, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
CJ McCollum Postgame Interview | Pelicans Media Availability 12/19/22
DECEMBER 20, 2022 • YOUTUBE
Jonas Valanciunas Postgame Interview | Pelicans Media Availability 12/19/22
DECEMBER 20, 2022 • YOUTUBE
