Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. appears to have avoided a major injury after leaving Monday’s loss to Indiana in the third quarter due to a knee problem. As Andrew Lopez of ESPN writes, Nance’s left knee hyperextended while he was attempting to grab a rebound and there was some initial fear that he had torn a ligament. However, further testing seemed to indicate there’s no significant damage.
“I just went to step, and it bent a direction it shouldn’t go,” Nance said, per Lopez. “Thankfully, we’re not worried about any ligament damage. We’re not worried about meniscus.
“It’s just one of those things that you do, and as someone who has torn their ACL before (while in college at Wyoming), it’s scary. It hurts. I just wanted to make sure I got it checked out. It’s sore, but we’ve avoided anything big-time.”
Nance is considered day-to-day and hasn’t been ruled out for the Pelicans’ game on Wednesday in Chicago.
“We’re going to ice it, do some treatment,” he said after Monday’s game. “And tonight, we told (head coach) Willie (Green) that if he needed me I was available to go back in. We’re gonna do some treatment and see how it responds tomorrow. But positive news.”
Here’s more on the Pelicans:
- Already a solid playoff contender, the Pelicans still control 13 first-round picks in the next seven drafts and have more roster depth than they know what to do with, signaling that there’s a trade to be made, argues Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer. While teams like Utah and Oklahoma City have more draft assets, they’re not in win-now mode like New Orleans is, so the Pels are in position to outbid virtually any contending team if an impact player becomes available.
- An underrated part of a talented Pelicans roster that features stars Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, and CJ McCollum, veteran center Jonas Valanciunas spoke to Mark Medina of NBA.com about his role, building chemistry with Williamson, and how he has evolved to adapt to the modern-day NBA. Valanciunas is averaging a double-double (14.4 PPG, 10.3 RPG) for a fourth straight season despite playing a modest 24.7 minutes per game.
- In a conversation with Melissa Rohlin of FOX Sports, Williamson discussed his attempts to tune out criticism about his weight and his belief that he still has plenty of room to continue growing and improving as a player. “There’s a lot of abilities that I have that I haven’t showcased,” Williamson said. “There’s abilities that I’ll show when I’m practicing or playing one-on-one, (but) in a game, I’ll be so in my head where I want to be this perfectionist or I’ll want to feel that I can make every shot I take that I won’t shoot my (mid-range jumper) or I won’t shoot my three. I’m capable of doing all of that and more. It’s just I gotta get out of this perfectionist mindset.”
If LaMelo comes available next offseason, this is the team. CJ slides back to the 2. Ingram to the 3. I’m sure Murphy and Jones would be included with maybe a third player plus some of the firsts. Would be really funny to see them trade for one Ball after not extending the other.
No thanks. We dodged a bullet with the other Ball brother. Neither look to be reliable health wise. I agree his talents would fit in great but just not worth the risk.
ESPECIALLY if we jad to give up Murphy. No thank you. Murphy is growing into the perfect 4th or 5th option or bench player. He’s long so impactful on defense & stretches the floor for Zion.
Jaxson Hayes & a future 2nd to Mia for Caleb Martin & Mia’s 2023 1st… gives NO a 2nd top20 pick in the next draft & another versatile wing on a very affordable contract. Hayes is stuck behind JoVal, Zion & Nance in NO but in Mia he’d be exactly the type of big they need to plug in at the 4, esp defensively. Bam, Hayes & Jovic could be a perfect big man combo for the next 5yrs in Mia.
Or they could really go for the gusto & offer Brooklyn something like JoVal, Devonte, GTemple & a couple of future 1sts for Kyrie & Day’Ron
As of right now the Nets would happily take Valančiūnas, Graham and Temple with no picks for Kyrie and throw in a 2nd of their own.
I’m still not sure they’ll keep it up but the Jazz are indeed winning now. They’re 9-3 which tops the West. They have the 2nd best differential in the West and 4th best overall, all that with the 6th rank offense and 8th rank defense.
Right but if u look they have only beat 1 good team that wasn’t missing key guys.
Grizzloes- missing ja
Grizzlies- missing Bane & Jackson
Clippers- missing Kawhi
Pelicans- BI & Zion went down & the Jazz still barely won
Meanwhile the Jazz have had the reverse where they have been basically fully healthy.
They are for sure playing well & above were people expected but it’s a little deceiving unless u look close at each game.
They will most likely package Graham & Hayes’s contracts (Graham is to inconsistent & Hayes’s rookie contract is up after this season & they prpbably can’t resign him) with a 1st or 2 for someone like Myles Turner. Showed the other night how bad our interior defense is. We will struggle a LOT if we had to matchup against the Bucks.