By our count, three Pelicans who average 68 minutes between them are listed out, and two are given a Wednesday return date. New Orleans carries a 3-game winning streak and a 3-4 record into Utah, so the next 48 hours will show how thin the guard rotation really is.
The Number
Jordan Poole, Dejounte Murray and Yves Missi are all listed out. Together they average 68 minutes a game, by our count, and that is the biggest hole in the rotation as New Orleans heads into Wednesday night. Since opening night the Pelicans have lost 393 minutes to injury, which ranks 19th among the 30 clubs. That is the middle of the pack, not a crisis. It still matters for a team that just won in overtime.
Who Carried It
Memphis showed what the thin version looks like. Jeremiah Fears played 39 minutes and Trey Murphy III played 40, and Saddiq Bey logged 36. Fears shot 5-of-17 with four turnovers, then made two free throws with seven seconds left for the 135-134 win. Karlo Matkovic and Zion Williamson each scored 25. That works for a night. It is a lot to ask of the same starters across a week with four games.
Return Dates
The listings give Poole and Murray an estimated return of Wednesday, and Missi November 8. An estimate is not a clearance. Murray was cleared and listed out again within a day last week, and his absence is personal, with no details given. Of five Pelicans newly tagged day-to-day since October 20, three missed the next game, by our count. Check the injury report before tip-off rather than trusting the date.
Utah Awaits
Utah is 1-6 and has lost five straight, with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic both out. The Jazz rate at 104.0 offensively and 115.7 defensively over their first six games, a small sample but a clear lean toward leaky. Keyonte George is averaging 22.8 points over four games. Then comes the Timberwolves on Friday in the Emirates NBA Cup, followed by the Clippers and Warriors on the road.
Bottom Line
Poole sits 10 points short of 7,500 for his career, which at his 6.0 a game this season is about two games away, a projection that depends on him playing. Murphy is 28 short of 5,000, also about two games at his pace. Watch the minutes more than the milestones. If Poole and Murray both play Wednesday, Fears and Murphy can come off 40-minute nights.
When are Jordan Poole and Dejounte Murray expected back for the Pelicans?
Both carry an estimated return date of November 4, the night against Utah. Murray is out for personal reasons and Poole has a left ankle injury, so check the injury report before tip-off.
How close is Jordan Poole to 7,500 career points?
He is 10 points short with 7,490. At his 6.0 a game this season that is about two games away, but he is currently listed out.
