Following their first post-All-Star break loss, the Pelicans look to rebound against the Chicago Bulls. The team will be shorthanded due to injuries and suspensions following Friday night's fourth-quarter fight against the Miami Heat.
How shorthanded they will be is the main question. One thing though is for certain: starting point guard CJ McCollum will not be suiting up on Sunday evening.
The Pelicans' starting guard injured his ankle early in the second period against the Heat and failed to return to the game. The Pelicans offense sputtered down the stretch without McCollum and backup point guard Jose Alvarado who was ejected after his scuffle with the Heat's Thomas Bryant. New Orleans will sorely miss McCollums' 18 points per game and his 40% shooting clip from deep against the Bulls, especially if Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson can't suit up.
On top of the current injuries, the Pelcicns wait with baited breath to find out the punishments for those players that were involved in the extra-curricular activities that Friday night contained. Alvarado and Naji Marshall were both ejected from the game in the fourth quarter.
The Pelicans aren't the only ones with injury issues heading into Sunday night's tilt. Chicago is down a few starters as well and the matchup between the Bulls and Pelicans surely will be a battle of attrition between two shorthanded teams.
Check out the latest injury report below.
New Orleans Pelicans
Out: CJ McCollum (ankle), Dyson Daniels (knee)
Questionable: Brandon Ingram (illness), Zion Williamson (foot)
Chicago Bulls
Out: Patrick Williams (foot), Torrey Craig (knee), Zach Lavine (foot), Lonzo Ball (knee)
If Williamson and Ingram are unable to go, the Pelicans will be missing 62.7 points per game out of their starting line-up. For a team that needs every win they can get in the fight for a Western Conference playoff berth, that's bad news bears. Stay tuned to the latest status reports to find out who will be rocking the NOLA across their chest come Sunday night.