Regardless of Saturday’s key results on the Western Conference scoreboard, New Orleans will enter a Sunday matchup vs. Southwest Division counterpart Houston in 10th place. The Pelicans may need to beat the Rockets to stay there.
New Orleans will face Houston for a fourth and final time this season Sunday (6 p.m., Bally Sports, 100.3 FM), attempting to win the head-to-head series for a second straight campaign (the Pelicans prevailed 2-1 in 2020-21). Leading scorers Brandon Ingram (right hamstring soreness) and CJ McCollum (health and safety protocols) again will be out of action for New Orleans. It will be Ingram’s fourth straight DNP and the second in a row for McCollum.