After Tuesday shootaround, New Orleans rookie guard Jordan Hawkins called the Pelicans’ roster “one of the deepest in the league,” one reason it’s not always easy for a first-year pro to get significant minutes, even as a lottery pick. Hawkins recently was assigned to Birmingham in the G League in order for him to gain more playing time, and he responded with a 32-point outing Friday in Indianapolis, sinking five three-pointers.
“It was really fun,” Hawkins said of his brief experience of facing the Indiana Mad Ants. “I got a chance to play a little bit, go up and down, get some shots up, just stay ready for when (New Orleans) needs me. So it was a good experience.”
The No. 14 overall draftee returned to the Crescent City and logged eight minutes during Sunday’s 20-point win over the Lakers. Earlier in 2023-24, the UConn product ranked as high as third on NBA.com’s Rookie Ladder, averaging 15.4 points in nine starts. He’s actually been an even more efficient shooter as a reserve, at 39 percent from three-point range in 19 appearances (96 percent on free throws). However, after forward and deep three-point threat Trey Murphy made his season debut Dec. 1 vs. San Antonio, Hawkins’ role declined, with him averaging 12.0 minutes in nine December appearances (it was 30.1 in his 16 November games).
Jordan Hawkins on his time in Birmingham, Jose Alvarado | Pelicans vs Nets Shootaround 1/2/24
Other notes from shootaround:
Hawkins on NOLA’s second unit: “I think we’re a really deep team. We have a lot of guys who can provide a lot of things, defensively and offensively. We have one of the deepest teams in the league, I do believe that. It’s exciting. We haven’t reached our full potential yet. We know we have another five (players) that could start anywhere in the league.” …
Asked what he’s focusing on to become a better defensive player in the NBA, Hawkins said, “I think I’m just trying to get stronger. Guys in the NBA are a lot stronger than they were in college. Guard my yard is the biggest thing for me.” …
Hawkins on Jose Alvarado’s four-steal, two-block game vs. the Lakers: “He was everywhere on the court. But that’s what he does. I’m not surprised at all. It was really cool to watch.” Hawkins noted of Larry Nance Jr., “(He’s) definitely an X factor for this team, just what he does defensively. He can guard 1 through 5, so when he’s on the court, we can switch 1 through 5. He’s just such a great leader as well, on and off the court.”
Brooklyn Scouting Report
Offensive efficiency rank: 11 (116.4)
Defensive efficiency rank: 24 (117.1)
Net rating rank: 20 (-0.7)
Streak: Lost 3
Go-to guy: LSU product Cam Thomas and wing Mikal Bridges are the Nets’ top scoring threats, both averaging over 20 points per game and connecting on two-plus three-pointers a night. Thomas has made an enormous statistical leap in the third season of his NBA career, going from 10.6 ppg last season to 22.4. Bridges, who faced New Orleans during the 2022 playoffs as a Phoenix starter, has also flourished in a bigger role compared to what he filled in Arizona. Bridges averaged 12.2 points in 365 Phoenix regular season games, but is at 23.4 in 60 for Brooklyn.
On the rise: Owner of one of the NBA’s smoothest jumpers, former Suns wing Cam Johnson came with Bridges to Brooklyn as part of the Kevin Durant trade last season. Johnson is the Nets’ third-leading scorer (14.9 ppg) and their second-most prolific three-point shooter (2.5 makes per game, just behind injured Lonnie Walker’s 2.6). Johnson averaged 10.8 points in the 2022 playoffs for the Phoenix team that outlasted New Orleans in a first-round series.
Previous Game Starting Lineups
BROOKLYN (15-18)
Sunday loss at Oklahoma City
Spencer Dinwiddie, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Nic Claxton
Notes: The Nets are in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, three games behind eighth-place Cleveland (18-15). Brooklyn is 1.5 games ahead of No. 11 Atlanta (13-19). … This starting combination is 6-6 this season. The Nets have used eight different first units; four of them are exactly .500. … Tuesday’s game is the third stop on a four-game road trip for Brooklyn, which is 0-2 (previously lost Friday at Washington). The trip finale is Wednesday at Houston. … Finney-Smith is probable for Tuesday’s game with left knee soreness. Walker (hamstring) and Ben Simmons (back) are out.
NEW ORLEANS (19-14)
Sunday win vs. LA Lakers
CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Jonas Valanciunas
Notes: This starting group is 10-5 this season. NOLA has used 10 different starting lineups. … The Pelicans are in sixth place in the West, a half-game ahead of No. 7 Dallas (19-15). Fifth-place Sacramento (19-12) is a game ahead of New Orleans, but the Pelicans have a 3-0 season-series advantage and will visit the Kings on Sunday. … Tuesday’s game is the finale of a five-game homestand for New Orleans, which is 2-2 so far (lost narrowly to Houston and Memphis, beat Utah and the Lakers). … Murphy (knee) is questionable to play Tuesday. Matt Ryan (elbow) is out.
FanDuel Keys to the Game
BIG THREE BUCKETS
The high-scoring trio of Ingram, Williamson and McCollum combined for 69 points Thursday vs. Utah, then topped that Sunday by amassing 74 in a dominant win over the Lakers. As Willie Green pointed out, the group also handed out 23 assists (against eight turnovers) to help the Pelicans outplay LA.
SECOND LINE ENERGY
Nance has only been back in uniform for two games, but his presence has been felt immediately by a thriving New Orleans bench. Alvarado delivered one of his most memorable defensive performances Sunday against the Lakers (four steals, two blocks), while Naji Marshall has played some of the best basketball of his career lately. Meanwhile, Brooklyn’s bench ranks ninth in plus-minus and eighth in points per game (38.7).
MATCHUP TO WATCH
New Orleans’ defense (ranked second in efficiency since Dec. 11, allowing 109.0 points per 100 possessions, via NBA.com) will try to prevent big games from the Brooklyn combination of Thomas and Bridges. Thomas and Bridges have both deposited 40-plus points in a game twice this season.