Queen's minutes jump +14 with a teammate out
When New Orleans is missing a piece, Derik Queen plays more and does more with it.
Derik Queen is averaging 14 more minutes a night over his last three games with a teammate out of the lineup, up from his season mark of 25 minutes to 39.2. That is a big swing for one absence to produce, and it has come with production to match: 24 points in that same three-game stretch, more than double his season average of 11.7.
The Pelicans have leaned on Queen to fill the gap rather than spreading those minutes around. That is the clearest sign of where he stands in the rotation right now. A bigger role tends to follow, not lead, a coach's trust, and this much extra time on the floor suggests New Orleans trusts him with it.
Through 81 games this season, Queen's baseline production has been modest: 11.7 points and 25 minutes a night. The last three games, capped by his April 12, 2026 outing, look nothing like that baseline. The gap between the season number and the three-game number is the whole story here.
Whether this holds depends on the teammate who is out. If that player returns soon, Queen's minutes likely settle back toward 25 and his scoring back toward 11.7. If the absence stretches on, or if the Pelicans simply like what they are seeing, the last three games may end up looking like the start of a real role change rather than a temporary bump.