The New Orleans Pelicans haven’t returned from the All-Star Break. At least it seems that way since the Pels have dropped two of three since their 8-day hiatus.
After blasting past the Houston Rockets last Thursday, New Orleans lost the final two games of a four-game home stand to the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls in less than impressive fashion. The Pelicans were held to 100.5 points per game in those defeats.
With their spot outside of the play-in tournament in a tenuous position, the Pelicans can’t afford an extended losing streak at this point of the season. For the most part, they have been incredibly resilient this season, posting a 14-9 record following a loss (.608). New Orleans has lost three in row only twice during the 2023-24 campaign.
That resilience will be put to the test on Tuesday night as the Pelicans face the Knicks. New York has the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference, and though they are without a pair of starters in Julius Randle and OG Anunoby, they’ve won two of three since the All-Star break.
The Pelicans, whose schedule was frontloaded with home games, now enter a stretch where nine of their next 13 games are on the road. Those nine games are all against Eastern Conference opponents, with six of those coming against playoff contenders.
The good news is that the Pels have been road warriors, winning five of six away from The Blender. They are 9-8 on the road against winning teams this season.
Keys to Victory
Taking Care of the Little Things. The Pelicans have been playing sloppy and inconsistent basketball for a while on the offensive end, and it has caught up to them. Over their last eight games, the Pelicans are 20th in the NBA in offensive rating (112.8), 18th in assist to turnover ratio, 23rd in turnover percentage, 15th in effective field goal percentage, and 18th in true shooting percentage. Their 19 turnovers against the Bulls marked their third-highest total of the season. Free throws have become a large part of the discussion surrounding the Pelicans, and while attempts are down, so is the team’s free throw shooting. On the road the little things mean that much more.
Find the Range. The Pelicans don’t win games by shooting a high volume of three-pointers, but they have been fairly accurate. Over the last two games however, the Pelicans are just 23 of 73 (.315) from beyond the arc. The Knicks are a very good defensive team, but one area where they aren’t as good is defending the three. New York allows foes to make more than 37 percent of their triples, meaning there should be some solid looks available. It’s up to Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy III and company to take advantage.
Most Recent Starting Lineups
| New Orleans Pelicans | New York Knicks |
| G – Herb Jones | G – Jalen Brunson |
| G – Trey Murphy III | G – Donte DiVincenzo |
| F – Brandon Ingram | F – Josh Hart |
| F – Zion Williamson | F – Precious Achiuwa |
| C – Jonas Valanciunas | C – Isaiah Hartenstein |
Injuries
New Orleans Pelicans: CJ McCollum (left ankle sprain) and Zion Williamson (left foot contusion) are QUESTIONABLE. Dyson Daniels (left meniscus tear) is OUT.
New York Knicks: OG Anunoby (elbow), Julius Randle (dislocated right shoulder), and Mitchell Robinson (ankle) are OUT.
Who: New Orleans Pelicans (34-24) at New York Knicks (35-23)
Season Series
- Oct. 28: Pelicans def. Knicks, 96-87
- Feb. 27: New Orleans Pelicans at New York Knicks
Where: Madison Square Garden
When: Feb. 27, 6:30 PM CST
Where to watch: Gray TV
Where to listen: WRNO 99.5
For more content, visit HITP Sports on YouTube or HITP Sports online.
READ MORE
- Points at a Premium as Pelicans Offense Finds Its Way
- How Can the Pelicans Get the Most Out of Zion & BI When They Don’t Share the Floor?
- The Future of the Pelicans May Hinge on Whether Zion & B.I. Can Make the Leap to Elite Duo
- Will Missing Dyson Daniels Damage the Pelicans’ Playoff Push?
- Pelicans Begin Critical 4-Game Home Stand Against Woeful Wizards
- Pelicans Can Move 10 Games Above .500 For First Time Since 2018 With Win Over Lakers
- Pelicans Open 4-Game Road Trip With Major Test Vs. Clippers
- New Orleans, You Have A Problem; Pelicans Facing 4-Game Losing Streak
- Boston Is a Tough Place For Pelicans To Try To Break Out of the Doldrums
- Jordan Hawkins’ Mulitfaceted Offensive Game Makes Him a Real Weapon For The Pelicans
