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.

Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (conditioning) will not play Thursday night to finish off a back-to-back set of games against the Kings. Williamson played 28 minutes and racked up 33 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists in one of his best games of the year on Wednesday, but the Pelicans still lost their 10th straight game. Despite his recent production, Zion is still not quite ready to play consecutive days. In his place, Karlo Matkovic, Javonte Green, and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl are lined up for more work on Thursday in a favorable matchup against Sacramento. Matkovic fouled out in just 14 scoreless minutes on Wednesday, but he still makes an interesting streaming or DFS option since he showed intriguing upside over the past few weeks.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (conditioning) is available ahead of Wednesday's game against the Sacramento Kings. Williamson was uncertain coming into this game considering it's the front end of a back-to-back set. That being said, Williamson will suit up on Wednesday, but figures to be sidelined for Thursday's rematch with the Kings. For now, fantasy managers can get Williamson back in their lineups, but they'll have to check back on Thursday to see if he'll play in both games of the back-to-back set.