Inside The Wizards

Wizards vs. Pelicans Preview: Best of the Worst

The Washington Wizards visit the New Orleans Pelicans tonight.

Jeremy Brener

Feb 14, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Washington Wizards forward Corey Kispert (24) has the ball stripped by New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Feb 14, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Washington Wizards forward Corey Kispert (24) has the ball stripped by New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
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The Washington Wizards are back in action looking to win their second game in a row as they take on the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center.

The Wizards and Pelicans come into tonight's game as the worst team in their respective conferences. The Pelicans have just five wins on the season while the Wizards picked up victory No. 6 on the year after beating the Chicago Bulls in the nation's capital on New Year's Day.

The Pelicans' woes this season have largely been due to injury as Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson have been out for a majority of the year, but they continue to fight through the trials and tribulations.

The Wizards have done the same, though their struggles have been largely due to the fact that they are an inexperienced team that is learning how to play with each other and in the NBA for the first time.

However, they have turned a corner in the past few weeks, and that momentum can carry them as they face New Orleans.

Here's a look at everything you need to know ahead of tonight's game:

Wizards vs. Pelicans Information

  • Date, Location: Friday, January 3 - Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
  • Time: 8:00 p.m. ET

Wizards vs. Pelicans Injury Report

Washington Wizards

  • SF Saddiq Bey (OUT - knee)
  • SF Bilal Coulibaly (OUT - illness)
  • PF Marvin Bagley III (OUT - knee)

New Orleans Pelicans

  • PG Jose Alvarado (QUESTIONABLE - hamstring)
  • SG Brandon Ingram (OUT - ankle)
  • PF Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (QUESTIONABLE - ankle)
  • PF Zion Williamson (OUT - hamstring)
  • C Karlo Matkovic (OUT - back)

Wizards vs. Pelicans Projected Starting Lineups

New Orleans Pelicans

  • PG Dejounte Murray
  • SG C.J. McCollum
  • SF Trey Murphy III
  • PF Herb Jones
  • C Yves Missi

Washington Wizards

  • PG Bub Carrington
  • SG Jordan Poole
  • SF Bilal Coulibaly
  • PF Justin Champagnie
  • C Alex Sarr

Make sure you bookmark Washington Wizards on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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