Pelica Debrief
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The 5 must-watch New Orleans Pelicans, Zion games coming in January

By Willie Lutz

NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 27: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 27: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SAN ANTONIO,TX – OCTOBER 13: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans drives on Jakob Poeltl #25 of the San Antonio Spurs in a pre-season game at AT&T Center on October 13 , 2019 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that , by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO,TX – OCTOBER 13: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans drives on Jakob Poeltl #25 of the San Antonio Spurs in a pre-season game at AT&T Center on October 13 , 2019 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that , by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) /

New Orleans Pelicans @ Memphis Grizzlies – Monday, January 20 @ 4 p.m. CT

Hitting the road to face the Memphis Grizzlies for the first time this season, the New Orleans Pelicans will get a chance to play in a game that is simply bigger than a match between two bottom-to-middle-of-the-road Western Conference foes.

The Pelicans have the unique opportunity to play on Martin Luther King Jr. day in a city that houses the National Civil Rights Museum. It’ll be a very powerful, special game that’ll hopefully allow these players to celebrate the cultural progression of our nation on one of the most beautiful holidays of the year.

While it’ll be exciting to watch the point guard match-up between Lonzo Ball and quick-twitch rookie Ja Morant (who went second in the 2019 NBA Draft), sometimes the game is bigger than the final score.

Currently, the Grizzlies are 13-22 and stand 1.5 games ahead of New Orleans in the conference, though it seems likely that the Pelicans’ defensive resurgence and returning of Zion could certainly push them far passed the Memphis, who is completely stripped of seasoned starpower.

San Antonio Spurs @ New Orleans Pelicans – Wednesday, January 22 @ 7 p.m. CT

Hosting the San Antonio Spurs for the first time during the 2019-2020 NBA season, the Pelicans will get a chance to go to battle with a team that’s also currently warring for the eighth seed in the West.

Considering the Spurs currently hold that spot in the conference, New Orleans is likely to come out firing in order to get a leg up on the current playoff squad.

What makes this game so crucial for New Orleans is the potential impact of Zion Williamson, who seems almost certain to make his first trip back to the hardwood on or before this date. The rookie played his fourth and final preseason game in San Antonio, potentially injuring his knee when he posted 22 points with 10 rebounds in 31 minutes.

Typically, we’d expect a Gregg Popovich team to be better than their 14-19 record at this point in the season, but this Spurs team isn’t like the Tim Duncan-led units of the 2000’s who reeled off a bunch of title runs.

This match against San Antonio could be a huge win and a great measuring stick for the New Orleans Pelicans against other teams contending for the final playoff spot, especially if Zion Williamson is in the picture.

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