Pelicans Set for Boost Ahead of Battle Against 76ers

On Wednesday night, the Philadelphia 76ers are set to take on the New Orleans Pelicans, as they look to build off of their win against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night.

While the Sixers are set to be without two role players in Danuel House Jr, and Jaden Springer, the Pelicans are set to get back one of their offensive catalysts.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, CJ McCollum is expected to make his return to the court, after sitting out for the majority of November with a collapsed lung.

New Orleans guard CJ McCollum is expected to make his return to the lineup vs. Philadelphia tonight, sources tell ESPN. He’s been out since Nov. 4 with a collapsed lung. The Pelicans are 5-7 without him. pic.twitter.com/FpyxhrXOWn
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 29, 2023

Prior to his injury towards the beginning of the month, McCollum was averaging big numbers for New Orleans, including 22 points and six assists per game, on an efficient 44 percent from the field.

The Pelicans have struggled at times without McCollum when it comes to finishing matches off, posting a record of 5-7.

Despite their recent struggles to win, their scoring numbers have risen by seven points without McCollum, with the Western Conference side putting up an average of 108 points prior to his injury, and 115 while he has been on the bench.

Granted, this isn't to understate the importance of McCollum to the Pelicans' offense, as since being traded to them in 2021, the former Lehigh University guard has averaged 22 points.

While the 32-year-old has been recovering from his injury, Willie Green has opted to use second-year guard Dyson Daniels in the starting lineup.

Across his 11-game stint in the starting lineup, Daniels averaged nine points per game, while shooting with 37 percent accuracy.

Tip-off for Wednesday night's match against the Pelicans is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. EST from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.