New Orleans has a chance to advance to the quarterfinal round of the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament, but for the Pelicans to do so on Friday, they must beat the LA Clippers in their final game within West Group B. A New Orleans victory – combined with a Houston loss in either of the Rockets’ two remaining tournament matchups – will put the Pelicans atop the Group B standings.
The team will be without four players in its pool-play finale at Crypto.com Arena. CJ McCollum (right lung small pneumothorax), Trey Murphy (left knee partial meniscectomy), Matt Ryan (right calf strain) and Dereon Seabron (G League two-way) are listed as out on Thursday’s injury list.
Previous Game Starting Lineups
NEW ORLEANS (8-7)
Wednesday win vs. Sacramento
Dyson Daniels, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Jonas Valanciunas
LA CLIPPERS (6-7)
Wednesday win at San Antonio
James Harden, Terance Mann, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac
Season Series
Nov. 24: at LA Clippers, 9:30 p.m. (In-Season Tournament, Bally Sports)
Jan. 5: at New Orleans, 7 p.m. (Bally Sports)
Feb. 7: at LA Clippers, 9 p.m. (Bally Sports, ESPN)
March 15: at New Orleans, 7 p.m. (Bally Sports)