Dejounte Murray will have to wait at least one more game before getting back into the New Orleans Pelicans’ lineup.
Murray was back in the building and had been removed from the injury report, but the Pelicans still decided to hold him out against the Atlanta Hawks for extra rest. He had already missed the previous game against the Sacramento Kings because he was away for the birth of his child.
That left some expectation that Murray would return for this matchup, especially with Jeremiah Fears also available again. There was real curiosity about how New Orleans would handle its backcourt after the first couple of games, when the Murray-Fears starting combination did not produce much. Any decision on whether to sit one of them - and which one - will have to wait.
For now, the Pelicans are sticking with the same group they used in the last game: Fears, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy and Zion Williamson.
That four-man unit has been the most effective look New Orleans has put on the floor so far. It has played just 11 minutes together, but in that stretch it posted a +78.6 net rating.
Still, that number comes with a small sample and it was built against Sacramento, a team that is probably the worst in the NBA. The Hawks should provide a much tougher read, since they come in with playoff aspirations. If New Orleans can get another win with that lineup, it would strengthen the case to keep rolling with it.
In Other News...
Pelicans Finally Found A Lineup That Changes The Conversation
The Pelicans have spent much of the season searching for a combination that could steady the rotation and change the tone around the team, and Thursdays win over Atlanta offered a convincing case that they may have found one. New Orleans rolled past the Hawks 121-99 for its second straight victory, with Saddiq Bey providing a major spark off the bench and the group around him looking far more connected than it has at other points this year.
Jeremiah Fears, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, Zion Williamson and Karlo Matkovic gave the game a different shape from the start, as the starting unit all finished on the positive side of the ledger. Dejounte Murray sat out for rest, but the Pelicans did not need him to control the night, which is exactly the kind of development that can make a coach rethink how the pieces fit once the schedule tightens again. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Are Finding Answers As Murray's Absence Tests The Rotation
Jamahl Mosley has been forced to juggle the rotation a little earlier than expected, with Dejounte Murray away for the birth of his son and Jordan Poole dealing with an ankle injury. The Pelicans responded by leaning on their depth, and Herbert Jones stepped into the starting lineup while Jeremiah Fears kept showing he can handle a bigger load when the opportunity comes.
The results have given New Orleans something to build on, with consecutive wins and a bench that has looked increasingly comfortable in expanded roles. Mosley has liked the effort and energy his group has brought through the adjustment period, and Murray was around for the second game even though he did not play as the team chose to keep him on the sideline a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremiah Fears Is Forcing A New Pelicans Backcourt Conversation
Jeremiah Fears has turned a quiet stretch into a real conversation for the Pelicans, and it is happening fast. In his last two games, the rookie guard has looked far more like a steadying force than a player finding his way, piling up points, playmaking and activity on both ends while helping New Orleans beat Sacramento and Atlanta.
The most striking part is how quickly the discussion around his role has shifted. Coaches and analysts have started to talk about him as more than a promising young guard, with his recent play opening the door to a starting lead-guard case and even some early Most Improved Player buzz, which is not the kind of momentum a team can ignore for long. [Read more 🡒]