New Orleans Pelicans host Trail Blazers on night of Carmelo’s debut

A little under a week after the New Orleans Pelicans hosted the debut of Paul George for the Clippers, they’ll now be the first run for another star forward.

After a rough start to the 2019-2020 season, the New Orleans Pelicans took home victories in three of their last five contests, despite injuries holding out four of their top five scorers for at least a game over the stretch.

Beating the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night, the Pelicans have another chance to take on a struggling Western Conference opponent battling their own injury woes in the Portland Trail Blazers.

Tonight’s game is set for a 7 p.m. CT tip-off from the friendly confines of the Smoothie King Center.

Five days ago, the LA Clippers debuted Paul George in New Orleans, a game where the Pelicans took home a 132-127 victory over the title-contending team. Doubling down on star debuts, the team will host the first game of Carmelo Anthony‘s stint with the Trail Blazers.

Portland brought in Anthony to help solve the team’s issues at the forward position. Sitting out of last night’s 108-132 loss suffered by the Blazers in Houston, the 5-9 squad hopes Melo can help. Lacking Zach Collins and Jusuf Nurkić for a long stretch of their season, they’ll need the scoring.

While the New Orleans Pelicans are off to a 4-9 start to the season, they look much improved from their opening stretch of games.

J.J. Redick and Jrue Holiday are finding their groove, which should help the team’s trove of young talent find their own route while the team leans on their veterans. The duo will have a key role in shutting down one of the league’s best backcourts in Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum.

However, the biggest question tonight doesn’t have to do with who will be there, it’s about who won’t be in action for the New Orleans Pelicans.

Seeming on track to get Brandon Ingram back tonight, they should get a boost from the lanky scorer who averages 25.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per contest, all while hitting 46.9% of his threes to start his tenure in New Orleans.

Ingram is listed as questionable but has seemed the closest to return after missing four-straight games after scoring 25 points in a win over the Charlotte Hornets.

Less of a sure thing are Lonzo Ball, Frank Jackson, and Jahlil Okafor. With the first two listed being questionable and Okafor being doubtful, it would be helpful for the team’s rotations if one or two of those guys could turn to healthy nods by tonight’s tip.

Derrick Favors and Josh Hart will both miss tonight’s action despite going through pregame warm-ups against the Warriors on Sunday afternoon.

While a pretty good number of key rotational Pels are banged up, tonight’s game against Portland gives this squad a chance to really start getting back on track. Trailing the Blazers by just one win in the Western Conference, the Pelicans need to capitalize against a beatable opponent.

How to watch Portland Trail Blazers @ New Orleans Pelicans

Fox Sports New Orleans will have all the Pelicans-Blazers action for fans inside the media market.

Fans looking for a way to watch the game but don’t have a cable plan can sign up for Fubo TV account to catch the New Orleans Pelicans all season long.

How to listen to Portland Trail Blazers @ New Orleans Pelicans

As always, tonight’s game will be featured over the airwaves on ESPN Radio New Orleans 100.3 FM for fans around Louisiana.

Those who want to hear the New Orleans Pelicans calls but aren’t in the market can subscribe to a TuneIn premium account.

What to read to get you ready for tonight’s game

Take a look at Bleacher Report‘s power rankings, where the New Orleans Pelicans are currently ranked as the 28th-best team in the league (despite being two games out of the eighth seed)

Over at The Ringer, Dan DeVine is getting the nation prepared for the debut of Carmelo Anthony in a Trail Blazers uniform, which he’ll rep for the first time against the Pelicans.

Willie Lutz from Pelican Debrief took a look at the plus-play from Nickeil Alexander-Walker as he gets more comfortable making shots against NBA competition.

Check out photos of Jrue Holiday and his family helping underprivileged families in the Big Easy to receive food and supplies needed to host a great Thanksgiving dinner.