The New Orleans Pelicans will take on the Atlanta Hawks for the second time in three games with plenty on the line.
The Pels have actually gained ground on the Golden State Warriors for the final play-in spot and are just a half game back, even after losing two of three games.
The New Orleans Pelicans are suddenly battling myriad injuries as well, with Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Steven Adams, Josh Hart and Kira Lewis all expected to miss the Hawks’ game while Nickeil Alexander-Walker is questionable.
If the Pelicans can stay in the mix while they wait for their stars to return, they will be a prime position to make a run at the playoffs, as everyone at the bottom of the West is losing and the Pels have one of the easier schedules to close it out.
The Pels have a lot of questions entering this game vs. Atlanta and some of them are going to be answered.
New Orleans Pelicans: Can the Pels get a win on the road?
The Pelicans are just 8-14 away from Smoothie King Center this season and have been worse in nearly every single statistical category.
The Hawks on the other hand, are 12-9 at home and have won six-in-a-row at State Farm Arena.
This doesn’t bode well for the Pelicans, so this would be an upset, especially considering the number of injuries they are trying to work around.
But if the New Orleans Pelicans can pull the shorthanded upset, it could be the spark they need to go on a run, as they have been bad on the road and are playing against a team that is very good at home.
It would be nice for the Pels to finally get things going on the road and get a big win against the Hawks.