New Orleans Pelicans and Brooklyn Nets have combined for 100 losses and 84 different starting lineups.
While injuries tracked Pelicans after a 49-victory season, Nets entered this season and started a rebuild. Regardless of the circumstances, two teams play out the string Tuesday evening in Brooklyn.
The Pelicans (21-57) try to avoid the second 60 loss season in team history and only since he went 18-64 2004-05. New Orleans also enters the game with a 12 percent chance of getting the overall choice when Pels sits two matches in front of Charlotte Hornets for the NBA’s third worst record.
The Pelicans are well out due to an extensive injury report that includes Zion Williamson (back), CJ McCollum (Foot) and Dejounte Murray (Ben), all of which are done for the season. The trio started together in five games in January before Murray was lost for the season, then Williamson and McCollum were closed recently.
Pelicans have used 24 players this season and except McCollum’s 56 starts, Yves Missi (66 starts) and Trey Murphy III (51 starts) have been the most consistent presence in the set -up – although Murphy (Axel) is also done for the season. Missi noted his 14th doubles when the beginner amounted to 18 points and 12 returns in Sunday’s home loss 111-107 to Milwaukee Bucks.
With five rotational players out for the season, Pelicans look at players like the beginner Antonio Reeves, who got 23 points in his third career start on Sunday. Reeves joined the lineup together with Missi, Keion Brooks, Bruce Brown and Elfrid Payton in one night when Jose Alvarado set out because of a sore calf.
“He’s ready for those moments when we put him on the floor,” said Pelicans coach Willie Green. “So that’s what you want to see in not only your young players, all your players, but especially your young guys, take advantage of the opportunities.”
Nets hold the NBA’s sixth worth record and a nine percent chance of winning the lottery in a draft where they check four first elections. Brooklyn started the season 9-10, but has gone 16-43 since when he got a long look at players like Reece Beekman, Drew hour and Maxwell Lewis.
“Very satisfied with how the season has passed, from the relationship with ownership, front office, the direction, the plan, the execution, where we are at,” Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernandez said. “We have a very important summer ahead of us, for obvious reasons,”
Beekman and hour made their first career NBA starts on Sunday when Nets used their 40th different start five in a loss of 120-109 to Toronto Raptors. Brooklyn committed a seasonal 24 turnover in his fifth straight two-digit home loss since an eight-point victory over Atlanta Hawks on March 16.
Beekman, acquired from the Golden State Warriors in December for Dennis Schroder, led Nets with 14 points in 36 minutes. Hour added 13 and has reached double digits in three of his five matches since joining Nets on March 28.
Nets rested Nic Claxton, Cameron Johnson (back) and D’Angelo Russell (ankle). While Claxtton has been cleared for Tuesday, it is very possible that Nets will be closed by Johnson and Russell for the last four games. Johnson and Russell are excluded for Tuesday.
-Field level media
