The New Orleans Pelicans return home Monday night to host Cade Cunningham and the playoff-contending Detroit Pistons. They are looking to bounce back from a tough road loss in San Antonio and give the home crowd something to cheer for.
Opportunity Amid Adversity
It’s no secret that the Pelicans’ season hasn’t gone according to plan. Injuries have defined much of their campaign, with stars like Zion Williamson, Herb Jones, and DeJounte Murray missing significant time. Whether Williamson (for personal reasons) returns to the lineup on Monday remains uncertain, but one thing is clear—New Orleans is learning everything it can about its younger players.
Head coach Willie Green has emphasized that despite the adversity, the current situation is ripe for growth. “I view this as an opportunity,” Green said after Saturday’s loss in San Antonio. “We’ve got young guys stepping up and getting valuable experience.”
One of those bright spots has been Trey Murphy III, who is averaging a career-best 21.6 points this season. CJ McCollum sits right behind him at 21.3 points per game while shooting nearly 45% from the field.
Additionally, recent trade acquisitions Kelly Olynyk and Bruce Brown, along with rookie big man Karlo Matkovic, have taken advantage of increased roles. Against San Antonio, that trio combined for 45 points.
Challenging Detroit’s Playoff Push
Detroit enters the Smoothie King Center in the midst of a playoff push, but they’ve slipped lately. The Pistons surged into sixth place with a strong stretch starting in February but have since dropped four of their last six games, including a heated loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday where Cunningham was ejected.
Detroit’s urgency will be high on Monday, but the Pelicans’ focus should be on cleaning up self-inflicted mistakes — specifically, the turnovers that cost them in San Antonio. New Orleans committed 18 turnovers that led to a minus-14 net in points off giveaways. Against a Pistons team averaging nearly 10 steals per game, ball security will be crucial.
Defensively, the Pelicans need to handle Jalen Duren, who is among the league’s best on the offensive glass (3.4 offensive rebounds per game). Meanwhile, Malik Beasley’s sharpshooting from deep (3.5 made threes per game over the last 10) is another key focus.
Key Matchup: Trey Murphy vs. Cade Cunningham
With Cade Cunningham looking to bounce back after back-to-back off nights and Trey Murphy III continuing his breakout stretch, this battle could decide the game. Jose Alvarado’s defensive pressure off the bench could also be an X-factor in slowing Cunningham’s rhythm.
Regardless of who suits up for New Orleans, the message remains the same: value possessions, compete for 48 minutes, and keep growing. The playoffs may be out of reach, but this young Pelicans group has a chance to play spoiler, sharpen its edges, and lay groundwork for the future.
Most Recent Starting Lineups
| Detroit Pistons | New Orleans Pelicans |
| G – Cade Cunningham | G – Bruce Brown |
| G – Tim Hardaway Jr. | G – CJ McCollum |
| F – Ausar Thompson | F – Trey Murphy |
| F – Tobias Harris | F – Kelly Olynyk |
| C – Jalen Duren | C – Karlo Matkovic |
Injuries
Detroit Pistons: Jaden Ivey (leg) is OUT.
New Orleans Pelicans: Yves Missi (ankle), Kelly Olynyk (finger), and Zion Williamson (personal reasons) are QUESTIONABLE. Brandon Boston (left ankle stress reaction), Herb Jones (right shoulder torn rotator cuff), and Dejounte Murray (right Achilles rupture) are OUT.
Who: New Orleans Pelicans (18-50) vs Detroit Pistons (37-31)
Season Series:
- Mar. 17: Pelicans vs. Pistons
- Mar. 23: Pelicans at Pistons
Series History: The New Orleans Pelicans are 30-17 all-time against the Detroit Pistons and have won seven straight in the series.
Where: Smoothie King Center
When: Mar. 11, 7:00 PM CST
Where to watch: Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network
Where to listen: WWL Radio 870 AM
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