As the regular season winds down, the New Orleans Pelicans and Brooklyn Nets meet in a game that carries more weight for what it might signal about the future than anything in the standings. With both teams headed for the draft lottery, Tuesday night’s matchup at Barclays Center serves as an extended audition for a crop of rookies trying to make a name for themselves.
Young Talent Takes Center Stage
The playoffs are no longer an option, so the Pelicans and the Nets are leaning into development mode. With injuries decimating both rosters, rookies and unproven players get extended looks. New Orleans, in particular, is showcasing its youth movement. Antonio Reeves has emerged as a legitimate scoring threat, averaging nearly 15 points per game in April and hitting 52.9 percent of his three-point attempts since the All-Star break. He scored 23 points against the Milwaukee Bucks and continues to show his value as a second-round pick.
| G | MIN | PTS | FG% | 3P% | |
| Pre All-Star | 24 | 10.6 | 4.2 | 40.2 | 31.4 |
| Post All-Star | 16 | 16.5 | 8.3 | 52.1 | 52.9 |
Yves Missi, meanwhile, continues to push for All-Rookie consideration. His rebounding numbers are up, and he’s providing rim protection while finishing more plays on the other end. Karlo Matkovic has also strung together a solid stretch off the bench, scoring in double figures in six straight games while shooting efficiently, though his defense must improve. Keion Brooks has added 11.3 points and 6.0 rebounds over the last four games.
Injury Woes and Lineup Shuffle
Injuries have been the storyline of the season in New Orleans. Nine players were either ruled out or listed as questionable for Tuesday’s game, including key names like Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy, and Herb Jones. Jose Alvarado and Kelly Olynyk may also sit out. That’s left Willie Green in scramble mode, mixing and matching lineups at a historic pace—he’s now used 44 different starting combinations this season, more than any other year in franchise history.
Brooklyn hasn’t fared much better on the health front, with seven players sidelined and several starters unavailable. So they’ve had to rely on young players themselves. Dariq Whitehead has turned in some of the best games of his young career over the past week, while former Gonzaga star Drew Timme is making the most of his opportunity.
A Game That’s About More Than the Score
Brooklyn won the first matchup of the season back in November by just two points, but both teams look dramatically different now. With the Nets slight home favorites and both squads near the bottom of their respective conferences, the final score may not matter much. What matters most is how the young players handle the moment.
New Orleans has lost four straight on the road and enters with a 7-32 away record. The Nets have gone just 2-8 over their last ten games.
Still, even in a game with no playoff stakes, there is value to be found. The Pelicans are gathering information—about Reeves’ shooting, Missi’s motor, and Matkovic’s defensive limitations. These are the kinds of games that help front offices make decisions.
The end of the season may be near, but for the Pelicans’ next wave of talent, this could be the beginning.
Most Recent Starting Lineups
| Brooklyn Nets | New Orleans Pelicans |
| G – Reece Beekman | G – Elfrid Payton |
| G – Keon Johnson | G – Antonio Reeves |
| F – Ziaire Williams | F – Keion Brooks Jr. |
| F – Trendon Watford | F – Bruce Brown |
| C – Drew Timme | F – Yves Missi |
Injuries
Brooklyn Nets: Noah Clowney (ankle), Cam Johnson (back), Keon Johnson (rest), De’Anthony Melton (knee), D’Angelo Russell (ankle), Day’Ron Sharpe (knee), and Cam Thomas (hamstring) are OUT.
New Orleans Pelicans: Jose Alvarado (calf) and Kelly Olynyk (Achilles) are QUESTIONABLE. Brandon Boston (left ankle stress reaction), Jordan Hawkins (lumbar spine annular fissure), Herb Jones (right shoulder torn rotator cuff), CJ McCollum (right foot contusion), Trey Murphy (right shoulder), Dejounte Murray (right Achilles rupture), and Zion Williamson (low back contusion) are OUT.
Who: New Orleans Pelicans (21-57) vs Brooklyn Nets (25-53)
Season Series:
- Nov. 11: Nets def. Pelicans, 107-105
- Apr. 8: Pelicans vs. Nets
Series History: The New Orleans Pelicans are 23-24 all-time against the Brooklyn Nets and have won two of the last three in the series.
Where: Barclays Center
When: Apr. 8, 6:30 PM CT
Where to watch: Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network
Where to listen: WWL Radio 870 AM
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