The New Orleans Pelicans return to the Smoothie King Center on Monday night to face the Philadelphia 76ers in a matchup between two teams limping toward the finish line of disappointing seasons. Injuries have ravaged both rosters, leaving each squad in evaluation mode rather than chasing postseason dreams. While the Pelicans and Sixers had much higher hopes entering the year, their current reality is a battle between two short-handed teams looking for something positive to take away from an otherwise frustrating campaign.
New Orleans enters the game fresh off a 136-130 loss to the Detroit Pistons, capping off a 1-2 road trip that did little to inspire confidence. Meanwhile, Philadelphia has dropped six straight games, their latest defeat coming at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks. With both teams scraping together rotations due to extensive injury reports, this game will be decided by who can get the most out of their available players.
Injury Report: Who’s Left Standing?
If you’re looking for star power, this isn’t the matchup for you. The Pelicans will once again be without Zion Williamson, who remains out with a lingering back issue. Joining him on the sideline are CJ McCollum (rest), Trey Murphy III (shoulder), Brandon Boston Jr. (ankle), Bruce Brown (reconditioning), Herb Jones (shoulder), and Dejounte Murray (Achilles). Rookie center Yves Missi is questionable with hip soreness.
The 76ers’ injury list is somehow even longer. Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey, three players who were expected to lead Philly into the playoffs, are all out with various ailments. The Sixers will also be missing key rotation players in Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon, Kyle Lowry, Jared McCain, and Kelly Oubre Jr., forcing them to rely on an unproven supporting cast.
With both teams so depleted, this game is less about superstars and more about which role players can step up and seize the opportunity.
McCollum Won’t Get an Encore
CJ McCollum, who is coming off a 40-point performance in the loss to Detroit, will sit out the game against the 76ers. With Williamson and Murphy sidelined, McCollum has been the primary offensive weapon for New Orleans, and he showed against the Pistons that he can still take over a game when needed.
Philadelphia, given its depleted lineup, benefits from not having to slow McCollum down. If they can dictate the pace and control the offense, the Pelicans should be able to keep the Sixers on their heels. But if they struggle to find shots or get bogged down by defensive pressure, New Orleans could find itself in another unexpectedly competitive game against a struggling opponent.
Jordan Hawkins’ Time to Shine
Without McCollum, Jordan Hawkins will be one of the most intriguing players to watch. The guard showed what he’s capable of against Detroit, dropping 25 points and hitting six three-pointers. It was the kind of performance that reminded everyone why the Pelicans were excited about his potential.
The challenge for Hawkins has always been consistency. He’s had flashes of brilliance this season but has struggled to string together consecutive strong performances. With so many offensive weapons sidelined, this is a golden opportunity for him to carve out a larger role. That is, if he can continue to space the floor, knock down shots, and make good decisions with the ball.
Philadelphia’s depleted defense should give him plenty of open looks. The question is whether he can take advantage and provide the kind of scoring the Pelicans will desperately need.
Defense Will Decide the Winner
While much of the focus will be on how New Orleans generates offense without its top scorers, the biggest key to this game might be defense. The Pelicans have been hemorrhaging points lately, giving up an average of 122.6 per game over their last 10 contests. That simply isn’t sustainable, no matter how well they shoot the ball.
Philadelphia, however, hasn’t been any better. The Sixers have allowed an average of 126.9 points over their last 10 games, struggling to contain even mediocre offenses. That opens the door for the Pelicans to dictate terms—if they can tighten up defensively.
New Orleans has the personnel, even with injuries, to be a strong defensive team. The problem has been execution. Whether it’s missed rotations, slow closeouts, or failing to secure defensive rebounds, the Pelicans have repeatedly shot themselves in the foot on that end of the floor. If they can clean up those mistakes and make life difficult for an already short-handed Sixers offense, they should be in position to control the game.
The Bigger Picture
For both teams, this game is more about the future than the present. The Pelicans had playoff aspirations, but injuries have forced them into survival mode. Willie Green has been forced to use 39 different starting lineups this season, a testament to just how chaotic this campaign has been. Now, it’s about seeing which players can step up and prove they deserve a bigger role moving forward.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, entered the season as a title contender but has been completely derailed. With their playoff hopes all but dead, they’ll spend these final weeks evaluating their roster and determining what changes need to be made in the offseason.
Neither team envisioned being in this position, but here they are. Monday’s game may not carry much weight in the standings, but for players like Hawkins, it’s another opportunity to show they belong.
Most Recent Starting Lineups
| Philadelphia 76ers | New Orleans Pelicans |
| G – Jeff Dowtin | G – Jose Alvarado |
| G – Quentin Grimes | G – CJ McCollum |
| F – Justin Edwards | F – Bruce Brown |
| F – Chuma Okeke | F – Kelly Olynyk |
| C – Guerschon Yabesele | F – Yves Missi |
Injuries
Philadelphia 76ers: Adam Bona (ankle), Andre Drummond (toe), Joel Embiid (knee), Paul George (groin), Eric Gordon (wrist), Kyle Lowry (hip), Tyrese Maxey (back), Jared McCain (meniscus), Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee), and Lonnie Walker IV (head) are OUT.
New Orleans Pelicans: Yves Missi (right hip soreness) is QUESTIONABLE. Brandon Boston (left ankle stress reaction), Bruce Brown (return to play reconditioning), Herb Jones (right shoulder torn rotator cuff), Trey Murphy (right shoulder), CJ McCollum (rest), Dejounte Murray (right Achilles rupture), and Zion Williamson (low back contusion) are OUT.
Who: New Orleans Pelicans (19-53) vs Philadelphia 76ers (23-48)
Season Series:
- Jan. 10: Pelicans def. 76ers, 123-115
- Mar. 24: Pelicans vs. 76ers
Series History: The New Orleans Pelicans are 23-23 all-time against the Philadelphia 76ers and have won three in a row in the series.
Where: Smoothie King Center
When: Mar. 24, 7:00 PM CT
Where to watch: Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network/WVUE
Where to listen: WWL Radio 870 AM
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