Pelicans transfer on from newest harm blow, face Timberwolves
The New Orleans Pelicans will attempt to discover a method to compete with out considered one of their high gamers in the course of the last month of the common season.
They have no different selection.
The Pelicans will play their first recreation since Trey Murphy III suffered a season-ending harm once they tip off towards the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday evening in Minneapolis. It will likely be the opener of a two-game set between the groups, who additionally will play Friday evening.
Murphy was injured in the course of the Pelicans’ most up-to-date recreation, a 127-81 loss Monday towards the Detroit Pistons. An extra examination confirmed that he tore the labrum in his proper shoulder and partially tore his rotator cuff.
The fourth-year ahead was within the midst of the very best season of his profession. He averaged 21.2 factors, 5.1 rebounds and three.5 assists in 53 video games . He added 1.1 steals and 0.7 blocks per recreation.
Pelicans coach Willie Inexperienced mentioned Murphy’s harm solid a darkish cloud over Monday’s recreation. It will likely be his job to get his gamers to refocus as they head to Minnesota.
“We type of felt sorry for ourselves a bit ,” Inexperienced mentioned. “You may’t do this. But it surely shook us up, particularly with all we have been by way of this season.”
That features earlier season-ending accidents to Dejounte Murray and Herb Jones, together with an prolonged absence for star huge man Zion Williamson.
Minnesota is in higher form each bodily and mentally because it continues a five-game homestand. The Timberwolves gained eight video games in a row earlier than falling brief 132-130 in time beyond regulation towards the Indiana Pacers on Monday.
Regardless of the recent streak, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch mentioned his group nonetheless has room for enchancment with 12 video games to go within the common season.
The time beyond regulation loss towards Indiana uncovered some points that Minnesota must appropriate, he mentioned.
” simply enjoying too quick, nearly uncontrolled,” Finch mentioned. “There’s simply no want for that. There’s a whole lot of methods to shut out a recreation. It is not simply making game-winning pictures.
“That is what we have not been capable of do all season lengthy. In that second, now we have to have composure and the power to take management of the sport, and we did not.”
Anthony Edwards leads the Timberwolves with 27.6 factors to go together with 5.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per recreation. He’s averaging greater than 10 3-point makes an attempt per recreation, and he’s making 40 % from past the arc.
Julius Randle ranks second with 18.7 factors per recreation, and Naz Reid is subsequent with 14.7.
Williamson leads the Pelicans with 24.4 factors per recreation and is taking pictures 56.1 % from the sector.
Minus Murphy, the following main scorer on the group is C.J. McCollum. He’s averaging 20.9 factors per recreation and taking pictures 37.6 % from past the 3-point line.
This would be the second of three video games between the groups this season. Minnesota held on for a 104-97 win within the first matchup Jan. 7 in New Orleans.
Subject Stage Media
This text was generated from an automatic information company feed with out modifications to textual content.
