The Pelicans are 3-4 and 11th in the West after beating Memphis 135-134 in overtime, and they host a Jazz team that has lost five in a row. Trey Murphy III's knee is the question on the injury list, while Dejounte Murray was cleared on Tuesday.
Knee watch
The newest wrinkle is Murphy's right in the middle of the lineup. He was listed Tuesday with a knee issue after playing 40 minutes in Memphis, and the injury list points to a return tonight. Murray came off the list the same day, which at least gives the backcourt a sturdier look than it had over the weekend.
Tonight's Jazz
Utah arrives at 1-6 and has dropped five straight. Over seven games this season the Jazz have a net rating of minus 11.7, against plus 1.5 for New Orleans over the same stretch. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic are both out. Keyonte George carries them at 19.6 points a game. Utah did beat the Pelicans 120-119 on October 23, so nobody here should treat this as a gimme.
Memphis hangover
Zion Williamson and Karlo Matkovic each scored 25 against the Grizzlies, and Jeremiah Fears hit two free throws with seven ticks left to end Memphis's perfect start. It was not clean: the Pelicans needed overtime after Memphis ran off 11 straight late in regulation. Winning ugly still counts, and it has the club one game over the 10th-place Nuggets' pace in the chase for a play-in spot.
The number
Our tally shows 396 minutes lost to injury since opening night, 20th most among the 30 clubs. Today Jordan Poole and Yves Missi account for 36 of them. Poole is listed out with an ankle problem, though the list gives him a November 4 return. Missi's knee keeps him out through November 8.
The question
Can the Pelicans put a full guard group on the floor for the first time in weeks? Tonight is the easy test, but Minnesota comes Friday in the Cup, and then two games on the West Coast. A fourth win in a row would move this team from stumbling to steady.
Who is out for the Pelicans against the Jazz?
Yves Missi is out with a left knee injury and is not expected back before November 8. Jordan Poole is listed out with an ankle injury, though the list gives him a November 4 return.
What is the Pelicans' record heading into the Jazz game?
New Orleans is 3-4 and has won three straight, which has it 11th in the West. Utah is 1-6 and has lost five in a row.
