The New Orleans Pelicans will host the first game of Paul George’s career in Los Angeles, so they’ll have to play with ferocity or risk the game getting ugly.
Off to a 2-8 start to the 2019-2020 season, the New Orleans Pelicans are creeping into the danger zone, on the precipice of losing their season to draft lottery positioning. They’ll face a steep test tonight as the LA Clippers, off to a 7-4 start, roll into town.
Tonight’s game is set for a 7 p.m. CT tip-off from the Smoothie King Center, as the Pelicans play host.
Most terrifying for the New Orleans Pelicans tonight will be the return of Paul George, an MVP-level player who will be playing his first game in a Clippers’ uniform.
While LA is expected to be without Kawhi Leonard, who played last night in the first game of a back-to-back, George is a plenty capable star on his own, even recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.
George averaged 28 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.2 steals a season ago with the Oklahoma City Thunder, shooting 43.8% from the floor with a 38.6% rate from three.
Potentially returning to the Pelicans lineup, after a significantly shorter absence of only one game albeit, will be the team’s leading scorer and breakout forward Brandon Ingram. Ingram is averaging 25.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and is shooting 46.9% from three.
Ingram will be a game-time decision, per Alvin Gentry, but his presence would be huge for the struggling Pelicans
The team will also look for Jrue Holiday to step up from his early-season funk. With Lonzo Ball still dealing with an injury and out for a third straight night, Holiday will have to play like a leader against one of the best teams in the West.
It’s going to be a hard match tonight for the Pelicans, but the Halloween night win over the Denver Nuggets proved this team capable of taking it to anyone when they’re focused.
How to watch LA Clippers @ New Orleans Pelicans
Tonight’s matchup will be featured on a broadcast from Fox Sports New Orleans, making available to all of those who can usually catch the game.
If fans don’t have a cable package and want the ability to catch tonight’s action, make sure to sign up for a FuboTV account, who can help get you access to the New Orleans Pelicans.
How to listen to LA Clippers @ New Orleans Pelicans
As usual, tonight’s game will be available over the airwaves on the ESPN Radio New Orleans 100.3 FM frequency.
Fans who want to listen but aren’t in the media market can sign up for a TuneIn premium account to hear New Orleans Pelicans games all season long.
What to read to get you ready for the game
Shams Charania of The Athletic talked to Anthony Davis about a wide range of topics, but notably what he regrets most from his exit in New Orleans.
Over at The Bird Writes, Oleh Kosel draws parallels between this New Orleans Pelicans squad and the Washington Wizards team who made a nice playoff run during the 2016-2017 season.
Lonzo Ball is out and has now missed three straight games, but he shouldn’t miss an extended period of time according to the team’s own expectations.