The New Orleans Pelicans are making a few adjustments to their December schedule, following their exit from the NBA In-Season Tournament. With Cup play behind them, the team now shifts its focus to the regular season grind - and a chance to regroup, reset, and get back to work.
Here’s what’s changing:
- The Pelicans will now host the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, December 11, at the Smoothie King Center.
Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. CT.
- They’ll hit the road to face the Chicago Bulls on Sunday, December 14, at the United Center, with tip-off at 6:00 p.m. CT.
Both games will be televised on the Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network, streamed on Pelicans+, and broadcast on WWL Radio.
There’s also a time change for their upcoming home game against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, December 8. Originally scheduled for 8:30 p.m.
CT, that game will now tip off an hour and a half earlier at 7:00 p.m. CT.
It’s also shifting platforms - no longer on Peacock, the game will instead air locally on Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network and Pelicans+.
These changes come in the wake of the Pelicans' 0-4 finish in group play of the NBA In-Season Tournament. They were grouped with some tough competition - the Lakers, Grizzlies, Clippers, and Mavericks - and couldn’t quite find their footing. The Lakers swept the group, punching their ticket to the knockout rounds, while the Pelicans were left on the outside looking in.
Now, while missing out on the chance to compete for the Cup - and that $500K bonus per player - is surely disappointing, there’s a silver lining here. With a couple of additional games against fellow non-qualifiers, New Orleans gets a rare midseason breather. That means extra time for rest, recovery, and perhaps most importantly, practice under James Borrego, who continues to shape this team’s identity on both ends of the floor.
It’s not the path they were hoping for, but it’s one that could still pay dividends. A few extra days in the gym, a chance to tighten up rotations, and a couple of winnable games could be just what this squad needs to build momentum heading into the heart of the season.
As for next year? There’s no doubt the Pelicans will want another crack at the Cup. But for now, it’s about making the most of the schedule in front of them - and proving they’re better than what that 0-4 Cup record suggests.