The New Orleans Pelicans have some injuries to deal with as three players anticipate their respective returns to the court very soon.
What are the current updates on their statuses and potential timetable to return to the court? Here is how it appears on the report as we enter the final week of December.
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Pelicans’ Latest Injury Report Features Jordan Poole
There are three players on the Pelicans’ latest injury report as of Dec. 26. The players in question are guards Jordan Poole and Dejounte Murray and forward Herbert Jones.
Poole missed the team’s last matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Dec. 23. He picked up an ankle injury during their encounter with the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 22, causing him to miss the following game. He does carry a questionable status, giving him the chance to return to the court in their next game.
Amid New Orleans’ significant struggles this season, the team has fared better when Poole is active in the rotation. They are 6-6 in the 12 games he appeared in, showing his impact as a persistent scoring spark off the bench. He is averaging 17 points and 3.3 assists per game.
Jones suffered an ankle injury during their contest against the Mavericks on Dec. 22, resulting in him missing out on the next game. Unlike Poole, Jones will need to be absent from the upcoming matchup to heal from the injury fully.
Jones stands out as a defensive star for New Orleans, but he was plagued by injuries, missing 62 games last season. This campaign, he has been more active on the court, averaging 9.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.7 steals per contest.
Murray is the last player on the report as he is yet to appear in a game this season. He has been out since late January after tearing his right Achilles tendon in the 2024-25 campaign.
The one-time NBA All-Star is making progress towards a possible return to the rotation. He could return as soon as the start of the new year, adding an important layer to the Pelicans’ rotation as a two-way star. Prior to the injury, he averaged 17.5 points and 7.4 assists per game in 31 appearances with New Orleans last season.
What’s Next on Schedule for the Pelicans?
The Pelicans finally had some momentum roll their way with a recent five-game win streak. However, their blowout loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Dec. 23 will have them searching for a return to the victory column.
New Orleans has an 8-23 record on the season, the second-worst in the Western Conference standings. They are only above the Sacramento Kings while trailing behind the Los Angeles Clippers, Utah Jazz, and Dallas Mavericks.
The Pelicans begin a three-game homestand as they get set for their upcoming matchup. They will first host back-to-back games against the Phoenix Suns on Dec. 26 at 8 p.m. ET and Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. ET.
