Pelicans play the Hornets in cross-conference game

Wed, Mar 22, 2023
NBA News (AP)

Charlotte Hornets (23-50, 14th in the Eastern Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (35-37, 12th in the Western Conference)

New Orleans; Thursday, 8 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: CJ McCollum and the New Orleans Pelicans host Terry Rozier and the Charlotte Hornets in out-of-conference play.

The Pelicans have gone 23-13 at home. New Orleans ranks ninth in the league with 25.8 assists per game. McCollum leads the Pelicans averaging 5.9.

The Hornets are 11-26 on the road. Charlotte is third in the Eastern Conference with 11.3 offensive rebounds per game led by Nick Richards averaging 2.3.

The two teams play for the second time this season. The Pelicans defeated the Hornets 124-112 in their last meeting on Oct. 21. Jonas Valanciunas led the Pelicans with 30 points, and Gordon Hayward led the Hornets with 26 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: McCollum is averaging 21 points and 5.9 assists for the Pelicans. Brandon Ingram is averaging 20.4 points and 4.9 assists over the last 10 games for New Orleans.

Rozier is averaging 21.4 points and 5.1 assists for the Hornets. Kelly Oubre Jr. is averaging 21.7 points and 5.1 rebounds over the past 10 games for Charlotte.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pelicans: 5-5, averaging 112.0 points, 40.9 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 7.4 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.5 points per game.

Charlotte Hornets

Hornets: 3-7, averaging 102.8 points, 41.5 rebounds, 23.6 assists, 6.7 steals and 6.7 blocks per game while shooting 44.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.5 points.

INJURIES: Pelicans: E.J. Liddell: out (knee), Zion Williamson: out (hamstring), Jose Alvarado: out (tibia).

Hornets: LaMelo Ball: out for season (ankle), Mark Williams: out (thumb), Cody Martin: out (knee).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.