New Orleans Pelicans DVOA, Stats, & NBA Rankings

New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Brandon Boston Jr. (ankle, illness) will miss a fourth consecutive game on Friday versus the Dallas Mavericks. The 23-year-old Kentucky product has been nursing an ankle injury and is currently also battling an illness. Boston Jr. has shown glimpses of quality in 2024-25, averaging 10.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.3 steals in 23.6 minutes. Jordan Hawkins and Bruce Brown get more burn with Boston Jr. out. Hawkins notched 16 points, four assists, and two blocks off the bench in the last game against the Sacramento Kings. Brown has been quiet through his first couple of outings with his new team, averaging 4.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 21.5 minutes.

New Orleans Pelicans center Kelly Olynyk will not make his debut with the Pelicans on Thursday when the team takes on the Sacramento Kings for the second day in a row. Olynyk averaged 15.6 minutes per game off the bench in Toronto before being traded to New Orleans as part of the deal that sent Brandon Ingram to the Raptors. Olynyk's role with his new team is still uncertain, but while he's out Thursday along with Zion Williamson (conditioning), there will be plenty of minutes and usage available for Yves Missi, Karlo Matkovic, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, and Javonte Green.

New Orleans Pelicans guard Brandon Boston Jr. (ankle) will miss a third straight game on Thursday when the Pelicans finish a back-to-back set of games at home against the Kings. Boston averaged 10.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.3 steals in 23.4 minutes per game in his 42 games, but he won't have a chance to return to the rotation now until after the All-Star break. CJ McCollum and Jose Alvarado will continue to carry the load in the backcourt, while newcomer Bruce Brown will stay involved off the bench after playing 26 minutes in his Pelicans debut on Wednesday.