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North of the border, we'll get to see two teams currently clinging to a play-in spot, as the New Orleans Pelicans are in Canada looking for a season sweep of the Toronto Raptors. The first meeting was way back in November, a game that the Pelicans won by 18, easily covering the spread. With 234 total points, the over also hit with plenty of room to spare. This will be the first game for both teams after the All-Star break. New Orleans holds the seventh seed in the Western Conference, 1.5 games over the 11th seed, with 23 games remaining. Toronto also has 23 games left and holds the 10th spot in the Eastern Conference, 2.0 games ahead of the 11th. Each game is becoming more critical, so when these teams butt heads in Scotiabank Arena at 7:30 p.m. EST on Thursday, there will be plenty at stake.
The New Orleans Pelicans have a 30-29 record this season despite only having Zion Williamson for 29 games and Brandon Ingram for 24 games. They've only played 12 games together all season. Well, Ingram has been back since late January, but 2022-23 All-Star Zion Williamson has been out since early January. While official injury reports aren't out yet, it's almost certain that Williamson won't be playing again.
New Orleans has managed to stay afloat anyway, winning four of six entering the break, although the latest game was a loss to the Lakers. They had a rough shooting night, only hitting seven of 25 three-point attempts and hitting 43.8% from the floor. Brandon Ingram had a team-high 25 points, and CJ McCollum added 22 points, six rebounds, and nine assists.
McCollum has been essential in keeping the Pelicans' offense functional without Ingram and Williamson. He's avera ging 21.1 points per game and a team-leading 5.9 assists while shooting 38.5% from beyond the arc. As a team, the Pelicans are 11th in field goal percentage, largely aided by their volume of shots at the rim. 39.8% of their shot attempts are at the rim, the third-highest rate in the NBA. It also helps them get to the free-throw line, as they average the ninth-most attempts per game.
Defense is their calling card, as the Pelicans are seventh in defensive rating and adjusted defensive rating this season. They force turnovers on 15.0% of possession, 10th in the league, and grab 77.1% of defensive rebounds, seventh in the NBA. Opponents only shoot 34.0% against them on threes, the best number in the NBA. That's despite opposing teams having 41.2% of their shot attempts be from beyond the arc against New Orleans, the sixth-highest rate.
The Pelicans, who are ninth in the NBA in adjusted net rating, are only 10-19 in away games.
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