Pelicans Stay Healthy, 76ers Lose Paul George to Suspension Ahead of Saturday Showdown
The New Orleans Pelicans are heading into Saturday’s matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers with a clean slate on the injury front - and that’s no small thing considering they’re coming off a back-to-back. After taking care of business at home against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night, New Orleans now hits the road with momentum and, more importantly, a healthy roster.
Let’s start with the good news for Pelicans fans: no new injuries, no rest days, and Zion Williamson continues to suit up for both ends of back-to-backs - something that’s been a very welcome trend this season. The only players listed on the report are long-term absences or G League assignments:
- Dejounte Murray (right Achilles rupture) - Out
- Hunter Dickinson (G League two-way) - Out
- Trey Alexander (G League two-way) - Out
There was a brief moment of concern Friday night when Saddiq Bey exited the game grabbing at his knee. That kind of scene has sometimes led to next-day absences in the past, but Bey returned to the court and looked fine. That’s a sigh of relief for a team trying to build consistency and chemistry heading into the second half of the season.
But while the Pelicans are rolling in with a healthy squad, the 76ers are dealing with a major shake-up. The headline?
**Paul George is out - and not due to injury. ** The veteran forward has been suspended 25 games by the league for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy, with the announcement coming down Saturday morning.
That’s a significant blow for Philly.
George may not be the All-NBA force he once was, but don’t let that fool you - he can still take over a game. Just two outings ago, he dropped 32 points and hit nine three-pointers. That kind of firepower is hard to replace, especially on short notice.
Here’s how the Sixers’ injury report looks heading into the matchup:
- Paul George (league suspension) - Out
- Charles Bassey (G League assignment) - Out
- MarJon Beauchamp (G League two-way) - Out
- Johni Broome (G League assignment) - Out
- Andre Drummond (illness) - Questionable
- Quentin Grimes (right ankle sprain) - Probable
- Kelly Oubre Jr. (injury recovery brace) - Available
Drummond’s status is one to watch. He’s been in and out of the rotation since Joel Embiid returned, but when he’s on the floor, he’s still one of the league’s most physical rebounders. If he can’t go, Philly loses a key piece of their frontcourt depth.
Grimes looks likely to play, and Oubre is available, which helps steady the wing rotation a bit in George’s absence. Still, this is a Sixers team that now has to adjust on the fly, both strategically and emotionally, after losing one of their top scorers for the foreseeable future.
As for the Pelicans, this is a golden opportunity. They’re healthy, they’ve got rhythm coming off a win, and they’re facing a Sixers squad missing a major piece. But road games on the second night of a back-to-back are never easy - especially against a team that still has Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and a home crowd behind them.
Saturday’s game just got a whole lot more interesting.