New Orleans plays the Jazz tonight, then the Timberwolves, Clippers, Warriors and Nets by Nov. 11. The week will show whether three wins were a turn or a stretch of good luck.
Utah Tonight
The Jazz are the opponent that matters most, because they are the easiest test on the list and the one the Pelicans can least afford to lose. Utah is 1-6 and has dropped five straight, with a net rating of minus 11.7 over seven games. The Pelicans sit at 1.5 over the same stretch. Still, these teams met on Oct. 23 and it came down to one point, 120-119. Both clubs had a day of rest.
Home, Then Road
After Utah, the Timberwolves come to New Orleans on Nov. 6 in an Emirates NBA Cup game, so that one counts twice. Then the schedule turns. The Pelicans visit the Clippers on Nov. 8 and the Warriors on Nov. 9, a road back-to-back with the Warriors game on NBA TV. The Nets visit on Nov. 11 to close the week. Three of the five are in New Orleans, and that helps.
Who Is Out
Jordan Poole is out with a left ankle injury and Yves Missi is out with a left knee injury, with returns estimated for tonight and Nov. 8. Trey Murphy III is day-to-day with a knee problem, also estimated back tonight. Dejounte Murray was cleared Tuesday, a welcome change after a week of personal absences. By our count, the Pelicans have missed 396 minutes to injury, 20th most among the 30 clubs. By our count, three of five players newly listed day-to-day on this club missed the next game, so Murphy's status is worth checking before tip.
Young Legs
Whatever the injury report says, the guards have carried the load. Jeremiah Fears is scoring 23.6 a night over his last 10 games, up from 14.3 this season, and Jordan Hawkins has picked up 13 more minutes a night over his last three with a teammate out. Zion Williamson leads the club at 21.3 points in seven games. That is a small sample, and it shows.
Bottom Line
Win tonight and the Pelicans arrive home Friday at 4-4, half a game behind the 10th seed. The Clippers and Warriors on consecutive nights will tell us more than Utah can. If Poole and Missi are back by then, this team looks deeper than its 3-4 record.
Who do the Pelicans play this week?
They host the Jazz on Nov. 4, the Timberwolves on Nov. 6 and the Nets on Nov. 11. They visit the Clippers on Nov. 8 and the Warriors on Nov. 9, the latter on NBA TV.
Is Jordan Poole playing tonight against the Jazz?
Poole is listed as out with a left ankle injury, with an estimated return of Nov. 4. Murphy is day-to-day with a knee problem, with the same estimate.
