After a miserable time with 12 losses in their past 13 games, the New Orleans Pelicans will try to reverse the trend on the road with a game against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday at Indianapolis.
On Thursday, New Orleans saw a late rally end with a 111-109 home loss to the Sacramento Kings. In a nightmare start to the season, the Pelicans’ roster has suffered several injuries and is currently without star forwards Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram and point guard Jose Alvarado.
In his first season with the Pelicans, Dejounte Murray fractured his left hand in the season opener and the 28-year-old guard has struggled in eight games since returning on Nov. 27. Murray’s 16.3 points per game is paired with career-lows of 34.7-percent shooting from the field and a 25.9-percent mark on 3-pointers.
“He’s coming back from being out for a while,” Pelicans head coach Willie Green said. “Coming back into a situation where he’s thrust right into having a lot on his shoulders is tough.
“He’s responsible for getting the team involved, getting us in our sets, guarding some of the best players night in and night out and then trying to score 20-plus a night. He’s still knocking off some rust, still trying to find his rhythm, but at the same time he’s accountable.”
While Williamson recovers from a strained left hamstring and Ingram deals with an ankle sprain, CJ McCollum’s 21.5 points per game has paced the team, while Trey Murphy III chips in 18.2.
Indiana is still trying to find its form following last year’s Eastern Conference finals run. The Pacers have won two of three following a four-game losing streak, most recently earning a 121-107 road win against the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.
Also burdened by injuries, Indiana lost two big men for the season with Achilles injuries in Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman, while Ben Sheppard (oblique) and Aaron Nesmith (ankle) are both sidelined.
Coming off a victory that saw the Pacers connect on 14 3-pointers, head coach Rick Carlisle likes the balance that his team is showing on the offensive end.
“We’ve got to be aggressive, and certain teams play a style of defense where 3s are available,” Carlisle said. “And if they are available, and we’re stepping into rhythm and hitting them, then we’ve got to keep shooting them. But we can’t forget about the paint. I thought our balance was good (against Philadelphia).”
Pascal Siakam’s 19.8 points per game lead the Pacers, followed by Tyrese Haliburton (18.0) and Bennedict Mathurin (17.6).
Indiana will be looking to further avenge a 125-118 loss at New Orleans on Nov. 1, which accounted for one of the Pelicans’ five wins. The Pacers earned a 114-110 home victory over the Pelicans on Nov. 25.
A New Orleans victory on Sunday would mark its first road win since Oct. 25 at Portland, and would clinch its first season series victory over the Pacers since the 2019-20 campaign.
–Field Level Media