The Pelicans will try to finish off their three-game homestand with a second straight win on Saturday night, but they’ll do it without Jordan Poole.
New Orleans listed Poole as out with a left ankle sprain, and the update makes it clear the team isn’t pushing him back early. He went down after just seven minutes against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, sat out the next game, and was never even moved into questionable territory for this one.
That’s a notable shift from the earlier expectation that he might have a chance to suit up sooner. For now, there’s no clear timetable on his return, though the source material notes that a sprain shouldn’t keep him sidelined for too long.
Poole’s absence lands at an awkward moment for a player whose name has already been floating in trade talk. With reports of a trade request swirling and the possibility that New Orleans could shop him, there’s little incentive to rush him back before he’s ready. At the same time, he had been a positive presence through the opening stretch of the season, and after a poor year and a hefty price tag, he’ll likely need to be on the floor to help rebuild his value.
The other Pelicans names on the report are Malik Dia and Jaron Pierre Jr., both listed as questionable as G League two-ways. Another injury situation still hanging over the team is Missi, who has been out since the second game of the season and remains without a clear return date.
Atlanta’s injury list is longer, but the Hawks are in better shape where it matters most. All of their starters are intact, and Jock Landale is available despite a nasal fracture.
Rayj Dennis, Zuby Ejiofor and Keshon Gilbert are all doubtful, while Mouhamed Gueye is out with a left foot fracture and Henri Veesaar remains out with a right ACL tear. Veesaar, a rookie center, was already ruled out for the year back in September, and Gueye is described as a useful depth big who played 15 minutes per night last season.
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 🡒]