New Orleans Pelicans host Toronto Raptors for opening night rematch

After taking a 122-130 loss in overtime on opening night, the New Orleans Pelicans now get the chance to play host to the Toronto Raptors.

On a two-game losing streak and off to a 1-7 start to the 2019-2020 NBA season, New Orleans Pelicans need a big win in a bad way.

Tonight, they’ll get a chance to face the 5-2 Toronto Raptors from the Smoothie King Center, with the action set to tip-off at 7 p.m. CT in the Big Easy.

When the New Orleans Pelicans went to Toronto on Oct. 22, it was their team’s championship banner and ring ceremony, just boosting the already ferocious Raptors home crowd.

Playing on their home floor tonight, the Pelicans will need to strike early, as they did in the first game of the season, but make sure their defense doesn’t get in the way of quality offense.

The Pelicans rank fourth in the league in offensive rating, shoot the fifth-best three-point percentage (37.9%), and lead the NBA in assists per game, but are posting an uninspiring start on the other end, ranking 29th in defensive rating.

While the team has struggled to stay healthy to start the year, they’ll have one of their healthier runs of the season thus far tonight against Toronto. J.J. Redick is questionable with a left knee bruise, while Lonzo Ball is probable with a right abductor strain.

After Jrue Holiday and Derrick Favors struggled with their own health issues, the two slow-out-of-the-gate veterans need to start being bigger contributors for the struggling New Orleans Pelicans.

What fans will be most excited about tonight is a second battle between two of the best players from the 2016 NBA Draft, Pascal Siakam and Brandon Ingram. Last time the two dueled, Siakam took home the cake, posting 34 points and 18 rebounds to Ingram’s 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Both off to a rip-roaring start, Siakam is averaging 25.9 points with 9.1 rebounds and Ingram is posting 25.9 points with 7.1 rebounds. They’re looking like the keys for both team’s offensive units to start the year, so fans should be in for a heavyweight battle tonight between the two.

How to watch Toronto Raptors @ New Orleans Pelicans

Watching from the Big Easy or surrounding territory? Tonight’s game will be featured on a broadcast from Fox Sports New Orleans.

Don’t have a cable package but want to watch the New Orleans Pelicans all season long? Sign up for a subscription via FuboTV to catch all the action, whether you’re in or out of the market.

How to listen to Toronto Raptors @ New Orleans Pelicans

If you’re usually able to listen to ESPN Radio New Orleans 100.3 FM, you’ll be able to catch tonight’s action over the airwaves.

If you want to listen but aren’t close enough to New Orleans, there’s a TuneIn premium account to solve your audio woes all season long.

What to read to get you prepared for tonight’s action

Earlier this week, Zion Williamson spoke to reporters to offer both insights and updates on the rehabilitation process for his surgically repaired right knee.

Vincent Goodwill at Yahoo Sports notices how Brandon Ingram is starting to fulfill the pre-draft comparisons many make between him and the superstar Kevin Durant.

At Pelican Debrief, Willie Lutz wonders if the team has a trade to make, potentially in the form of the Sacramento Kings’ sixth-man Bogdan Bogdanović.

The Bird Writes wonder if the New Orleans Pelicans will have a boost tonight from a finally-healthy Derrick Favors, who has missed three games of the team’s seven so far this year.