Pelicans shootaround update: Second half opens on home floor of NBA’s best team

With a Western Conference play-in spot still within striking distance, the final seven weeks of the NBA regular season could feature a significant amount of scoreboard watching for New Orleans basketball aficionados, but if you’re more of a “control your own destiny” kind of fan, there’s good news. Of the Pelicans’ remaining 23 games, nearly one-third are against the West teams currently sitting in places 9-11, just ahead of No. 12 New Orleans (23-36) in the standings. The Pelicans will face the ninth-place Lakers (27-31) on Sunday for the first of three head-to-head meetings between then and April Fool’s Day.