The New Orleans Pelicans head into their matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies carrying a mixed injury report, but the biggest name on it is Trey Murphy III. Murphy is dealing with bilateral patella tendinopathy and was added to the report ahead of the game, though he is listed as probable and appears on track to play.
That matters for New Orleans, which will need as much available firepower as possible against a Memphis team that has not lost yet and is chasing a 7-0 start. Murphy has been an important piece for the Pelicans this season, so there is at least some relief that the injury does not seem serious enough to keep him out.
Dejounte Murray, who missed the last game against the Atlanta Hawks because of personal reasons, is not on the injury report and should be available.
The Pelicans still have a couple of notable absences. Yves Missi remains out with a left knee contusion and bone bruise, while Jordan Poole is also out because of left ankle tendinopathy. Neither player has made his regular-season debut, and there is still no clear timetable for either return.
New Orleans enters the night at 2-4 and 11th in the Western Conference. It is still early, but the Pelicans are clearly still sorting through how to function in Jamahl Mosley’s system.
Memphis has its own injury concerns. Scotty Pippen Jr. is doubtful with low back soreness, and Quinten Post is questionable because of a right ankle sprain.
In Other News...
Pelicans Sent A Message In That Scuffle And The NBA Noticed
The fallout from the scuffle in New Orleans carried beyond the final whistle, with the NBA stepping in after tempers flared between the Pelicans and Hawks. What started with contact between Atlanta guard Kingston Flemings and New Orleans guard Bryce McGowens quickly spilled into a broader confrontation, drawing players from both sides into the moment and putting the league office on notice.
For the Pelicans, the sequence also offered a glimpse of the edge Jamahl Mosley has been trying to build into this group. Mosley praised the teams camaraderie afterward, and even in a brief, messy exchange, New Orleans showed it would not be pushed around without a response. The leagues discipline only underscored how fast a routine game can turn into something more consequential. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans May Have Found Jamahl Mosleys Defensive Identity Problem
Jamahl Mosley has spent enough time around elite defenses to know what a real identity looks like, and in New Orleans, he is still searching for one that shows up night after night. The Pelicans have only had a limited number of games where they held opponents under 100 points, a mark Mosley reached often with the Orlando Magic, even as the group has shown flashes of the disruptive, connected defense he wants.
A recent win over the Atlanta Hawks offered a cleaner glimpse of that direction, with the Pelicans turning defensive activity into offense and finding some help from a rotation that has been forced to change because of injuries. The challenge now is making those stretches last, especially with turnovers and perimeter shooting still complicating the bigger picture, and Mosley has more defensive options to sort through as the lineup continues to shift. [Read more 🡒]
Young Grizzlies Put Early Momentum To The Test Against Pelicans
The Pelicans head to FedExForum on Monday night with Memphis riding a hot start and a young core that has already shown it can handle pressure. The Grizzlies have been sharp enough to beat Sacramento in their most recent outing, and the matchup offers New Orleans a first real look at a team that has quickly retooled around a new wave of talent while still playing with the edge of a club that expects to win now.
For New Orleans, the challenge is as much about pace and composure as it is about matching up on the floor. Memphis has leaned into a different identity after reshaping its roster, and forward Jerami Grant has already pointed to the way the group is competing as a sign of where it is headed. The Pelicans will need to slow that momentum early, because this one has the feel of a test that can tell you a lot about both teams before the calendar even turns deeper into November. [Read more 🡒]