NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (34-24) AT NEW YORK KNICKS (35-23)
Overview
New Orleans and New York enter Tuesday’s interconference meeting with virtually identical records, as well as injury concerns, but to varying degrees. The Pelicans hope to get CJ McCollum (questionable, ankle sprain) back in uniform in order to make their primary starting lineup whole again for the first time since a Feb. 14 win vs. Washington. Meanwhile, the Knicks are trying to overcome an extended stretch of injury DNPs to three starters, including No. 2 scorer Julius Randle (24.0 ppg), valuable in-season trade addition OG Anunoby and center Mitchell Robinson, a Chalmette High product. Not long ago, New York appeared potentially headed for the Eastern Conference’s second seed, but its shorthanded rotation has led to a 4-6 record in February and current fourth-place status. Over that same span, New Orleans is 7-3, giving the Pelicans a half-game lead for a top-six seed in the West.
Players to Watch
PELICANS
Herb Jones
The third-year wing has emerged from the All-Star break playing some of his best basketball, averaging 17.0 points and shooting 66 percent from the field (while going 8/12 on three-pointers). On defense, he’s averaging 2.7 steals. Over the three games, Jones is a team-best plus-38 (the Pelicans are minus-35 with him off the floor).
Jonas Valanciunas
Like Jones, the center has been highly productive in a range of categories over the past week, averaging a strong double-double (15.3 points, 13.7 rebounds), while shooting 55 percent from the field. He’s been a steadying presence on the road all season, shooting 58 percent (37 percent on threes).
Brandon Ingram
On Sunday, Ingram played in his first game in 11 days, returning from two DNPs due to illness and producing several positives (22 points, six assists, three steals) and one negative (nine turnovers). He led the Pelicans with 26 points on 11/17 shooting in the Oct. 28 home victory over New York.
KNICKS
Jalen Brunson
The All-Star point guard is averaging 32.4 points in February, upping his scoring and usage amid various key New York injuries. His offensive production has increased every month of this season. The southpaw will look to avenge his 14-point, 4/14 shooting game in a loss at New Orleans on Oct. 28.
Donte DiVincenzo
Over the last 10 games, New York’s other Villanova starting guard is the club’s second-leading scorer by a wide margin (22.2 ppg, no one behind him is over 13.8). DiVincenzo is knocking down 39 percent of his three-point attempts during that span.
New reserves
Since coming to the Big Apple in a trade from Detroit, Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks have provided needed firepower, averaging 13.8 and 10.2 points, respectively. Bogdanovic has made 45 percent of his three-point attempts with New York.
Previous Game Starting Lineups
NEW ORLEANS (34-24, 6TH IN WEST)
Sunday loss vs. Chicago
Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Jonas Valanciunas
Notes: McCollum (ankle) and Williamson (foot) are listed as questionable. Dyson Daniels (knee) is out. Naji Marshall is returning from a one-game suspension, while Jose Alvarado will serve the second game of his three-game suspension. … Sunday’s first unit was the 15th different starting lineup used by Willie Green this season. … New Orleans must win in New York to remain in the top six of the West entering the Pelicans’ Wednesday game at Indiana. No. 7 Sacramento (33-24) and No. 8 Dallas (33-24) are just a half-game behind New Orleans. The Mavericks visit Cleveland on Tuesday.
NEW YORK (35-23, 4TH IN EAST)
Monday win vs. Detroit
Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, Precious Achiuwa, Isaiah Hartenstein
Notes: Like Green, Tom Thibodeau has used exactly 15 different starting lineups this season. … Monday’s first string has compiled a 6-2 record this season, going 2-1 since the All-Star break. … Despite going 4-6 in its last 10 games, New York maintains a 1.5-game lead over fifth-place Philadelphia (33-24), which is just 3-7 during the same span. The Knicks trail third-place Milwaukee (37-21) by two games. With Boston (45-12) lapping the East field, the race for a top-three seed brings the potential motivation of avoiding the Celtics until the conference finals.
FanDuel Keys to the Game
FREE THROW MARGIN
New Orleans has seen a dip in its trips to the foul line recently, shooting less than its 2023-24 average of 23.7 per game in eight of the last 10 contests (the 23.7 tries rank eighth in the NBA). It’s been an even sharper drop since the All-Star break, with the Pelicans taking only 18, 13 and 14 in their games. New York has similar season numbers at the charity stripe, averaging 23.0 per game (ranks 12th).
LIMIT SECOND CHANCES
New York didn’t have many positives to glean from its low-scoring, Oct. 28 loss in the Smoothie King Center, but one was offensive rebounding. The category was dominated by the Knicks 16-4 (Robinson, who is sidelined by ankle surgery, grabbed 10 of those). The Knicks are second in offensive boards per game (12.8), while the Pelicans are middle-of-the-pack in defensive rebounding (13th in percentage at 72.0).
MATCHUP TO WATCH
At starting small forward, former Pelicans (and Lakers) teammates Ingram and Hart will square off, with Hart relying on his extensive knowledge of Ingram’s game to try to contain the 2020 All-Star. Ingram and Williamson combined for 50 of NOLA’s 96 points vs. New York on Oct. 28, while Hart was a force on the backboards (10 rebounds).