3 game home stand will put New Orleans Pelicans to the test

The New Orleans Pelicans just can’t catch a break this season.

After building some momentum behind star Brandon Ingram, the Pels lost him to injury at what couldn’t have been a worse time.

New Orleans entered 2022 on a high note after a thrilling comeback victory vs. the Cavaliers in which Herb Jones placed himself with the best rookies in the NBA.

But that was short lived, as Jonas Valanciunas then went into COVID protocol, wiping out any chance the Pelicans had to upset the Milwaukee Bucks in the first game of 2022.

Now the Pelicans are without their three best players heading into one of the most brutal home stands of the season.

Still just 1.5 games out of the play-in, this stretch is going to put these new-look Pelicans to the test.

New Orleans Pelicans schedule: 3 game homestand could get ugly

After losing to the Bucks last night, the Pelicans are 13-23, though they have won six of their last 10 games. They’ve been getting some help from the slumping Spurs and Trail Blazers but the Pelicans are going to need to win some games if they want to stay in the race for the play-in, which isn’t going to be easy.

The Smoothie King Center is going to be rocking for these three games but who are they going to see? Will Brandon Ingram be back?

• January 3rd-Utah Jazz
• January 4th-Phoenix Suns
• January 6th- Golden State Warriors

Ho hum, just three games in a row against the three best teams in the Western Conference that includes a back-to-back. Ouch.

Even if the Pelicans drop all three of these games, they will likely still not be out of contention, as the West stinks at the bottom and no one looks like they are going to go on a big run.

A win or two in these games would undoubtedly boost the Pels’ morale, as well as their position in the standings, and you can never count this team out because we know they are going to continue to fight.

It’s been an uphill battle all season without Zion Williamson, but if Brandon Ingram isn’t back soon, and Valanciunas has to miss too many more games, the Pelicans may get back to talking about lottery odds rather than playoff odds.