Saturday, Nov. 16, 7 p.m.
Other 2013-14 games between these two teams
Friday, Nov. 29, New Orleans at Philadelphia
Why it’s on the list
The two teams involved in the NBA’s most significant draft-night trade meet for the first time in 2013-14, on a big weekend for New Orleans professional sports. The following afternoon, the Saints are scheduled to host the San Francisco 49ers in the Superdome.
On June 27, the Pelicans acquired All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday from the 76ers, partly in exchange for No. 6 overall draft pick Nerlens Noel. While the move instantly improved New Orleans, Philadelphia is now focused on rebuilding long-term. Recovering from an ACL injury, Noel is unlikely to be ready to play by this early-season matchup.
Holiday will get his first crack at playing against several of his former 76ers teammates, including Evan Turner and New Orleans-born Thaddeus Young. The Pelicans are happy to have the UCLA product on their side now – Holiday averaged 15.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.4 assists against New Orleans in seven career games. He shot 40 percent from three-point range and 88 percent from the foul line.
What’s new in Philadelphia
The 76ers have a new GM (Sam Hinkie) and will be led by a new head coach (Brett Brown). Philadelphia has appeared to close the books on a recent period in which Philadelphia was a middle-of-the-pack team that often reached the East playoffs, but only advanced beyond the first round once. The team’s marquee summer additions were Noel and fellow 2013 lottery pick Michael Carter-Williams, a point guard from Syracuse. The 76ers’ most notable “veteran” pickup isn’t technically even a veteran. Royce White appeared in four preseason games with Houston in 2012-13, but did not play in an official regular season contest.