Hornets vs. Pelicans Game Preview

NEW ORLEANS- The New Orleans Pelicans (35-37, 12th) are just one game behind the seventh seed in the Western Conference standings. They could jump back into an NBA Play-In spot with a win over the Charlotte Hornets (23-50, 14th) and some help but these Pelicans cannot take anything for granted.

There is no margin for error the rest of the season, especially after a heartbreaking loss in Houston last weekend. The Hornets might be eliminated from postseason contention but Steve Clifford's squad is still playing competitive basketball every night. Charlotte defeated the Indiana Pacers on Monday, snapping a 4-game losing streak.

Indiana was knocked down out of the last play-in spot with the loss to Charlotte. New Orleans is looking to avoid that same fate even though the Pelicans are still trying to qualify for the playoffs without Jose Alvarado (right tibial stress reaction) and Zion Williamson (right hamstring strain), both of whom will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Charlotte has been dealing with the loss of LaMelo Ball (ankle) for the rest of the season. Rookie big man Mark Williams (thumb) has been unavailable recently and Cody Martin (knee) has not played in a game since January.

When: Thursday, March 23 @ 7:00 PM CT
Where: New Orleans, LA - Smoothie King Center
Watch: Bally Sports NO, ESPN
Listen: 99.5 WRNO

The Hornets are 3-7 over their last 10 games. They are averaging only 111.3 points, 44.6 rebounds, 24.9 assists, and 13.9 turnovers per game. They only shoot 45.5% from the field, second-to-worst in the entire NBA. Charlotte is the worst three-point shooting team in the league but New Orleans is known for giving up franchise-best nights from beyond the arc to visiting teams.

This could turn into a choppy, scrappy contest. Both Charlotte (7th) and New Orleans (2nd) are in the top 10 in steals per game. Both teams are in the top half for fouls committed while also being bottom half teams in the free-throws made and three-pointers made categories.

The Pelicans are 10th in assists but also 10th in turnovers. Sharing the ball and keeping the focus off of Brandon Ingram's isolations late in the shot clock are keys to a much-needed victory.

Thursday’s meeting will be the second of the season between the two teams. New Orleans is 23-13 at home, and Charlotte is 11-26 on the road. The Pelicans won the first meeting back in October. It was the second game of the season and both Zion Williamson and LaMelo Ball were on the court for the road win.

No Zion. No LaMelo. Ingram and McCollum will have to recreate their magic from last year's postseason run. The duo will have to outpace Terry Rozier (averaging 21.4 points and 5.1 assists) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (averaging 21.7 points and 5.1 rebounds over the past 10 games), both of whom have stepped up in Ball's absence.

Will the Pelicans be able to secure a crucial victory on their home court, or will the Hornets emerge victorious? It could come down to the Pelicans sticking with what works regardless of how Ingram and McCollum are defended.

Coach Willie Green said after the most recent win over the San Antonio Spurs, "(Valanciunas), whether he scores or not, when he touches the ball in the post, he creates offense for us. So there are times when we've just got to throw it down to him and allow him to operate."

Projected Starting Lineups:

Hornets: Terry Rozier, Kelly Oubre Jr., Gordon Hayward, PJ Washington, Nick Richards

Pelicans: CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Trey Murphy III, Jonas Valanciunas

Hornets vs. Pelicans Game Preview | March 23

Projected Starting Lineups:

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