Dejounte Murray's Return and the Pelicans' Late-Season Surge
After 13 months rehabbing a torn right Achilles, Dejounte Murray made his 2025-26 debut in late February and has looked sharp, posting 17 points and nine assists in just his second game back. Meanwhile, Trey Murphy III has hit the 25-point mark 16 times this season and is the unquestioned engine of this offense, dropping a season-high 44 in February. Rookie Jeremiah Fears — the No. 7 pick out of Oklahoma — is averaging 13.8 points and 4.3 assists over his last eight games and flashing the playmaking upside that made him a lottery pick. Under interim coach James Borrego, New Orleans has gone 6-3 in its last nine games, making a long-shot play-in push with a 21-45 record heading into mid-March.
Smoothie King Center: Where Mardi Gras Meets NBA Basketball
There's no arena experience quite like Smoothie King Center when the Pelicans are rolling — brass-band rhythms blasting through the concourse, gold-and-red beads flying, and 'Let's Go Pelicans' chants rattling the lower bowl like a second line parade. The 'Who Dat' spirit bleeds over from Saints culture, giving the fanbase a dual-team identity that's uniquely New Orleans. Trey Murphy III has become a crowd favorite, with fans rising in unison every time he catches a corner three. And on the rare nights the Pelicans make the playoffs, Smoothie King Center transforms into one of the loudest and most electric buildings in the entire NBA.
Memphis Grizzlies: The Southwest Division Rivalry That Hits Different
The Pelicans and Grizzlies don't need a trophy to make this rivalry matter — divisional pride and playoff positioning are enough. These two franchises opened the 2025-26 season against each other, setting a contentious tone from tip-off. Both clubs have spent recent years battling for the same play-in and playoff real estate in the Southwest Division, making every regular-season meeting feel like a statement game. When the Pelicans are healthy and surging, this rivalry has genuine heat — and with young cores on both sides, it's only going to get more intense.
Stop Chasing Injury Reports at Midnight — Scoutcast Has You Covered
Being a Pelicans fan in 2026 means refreshing Twitter at midnight for Zion injury updates, parsing beat reporters on Dejounte Murray's minutes restriction, and trying to figure out if tonight's game matters for play-in positioning. Scoutcast delivers a personalized, AI-powered audio briefing built specifically for fans like you — every morning, catch exactly what happened, what it means for the rebuild, and what to watch for next. No noise, no hot takes you don't need — just the Pelicans intel that actually matters, ready before your commute.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Pelicans are 21-45 through mid-March 2026, one of the worst records in the NBA. After a 2-10 start led to Willie Green's firing, interim coach James Borrego has steadied the ship with a 6-3 run in their last nine games.
At 21-45, the Pelicans face a very steep climb to reach the play-in tournament. Their recent 6-3 run under Borrego keeps the conversation alive, but they'd need a historic late-season surge and significant help from other Southwest Division teams to realistically get in.
Zion has been active and productive in recent weeks, logging 23 points and nine rebounds in a win over the Kings in early March. His availability has been one of the few bright spots late in the season, though his long-term future in New Orleans remains a hot topic this offseason.
Murray made his season debut on February 25 against Golden State after missing 58 games with a torn right Achilles. He's looked sharp, posting 17 points, nine assists, and four steals in his second game back — and is being managed carefully on back-to-backs as he rebuilds his conditioning.
Fears, the No. 7 pick out of Oklahoma, is averaging 13.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game in his rookie season. Over his last eight games he's put up 13.8 points and 4.3 assists, showing consistent growth as New Orleans' point guard of the future.