METAIRIE, La. — With a 114-106 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Sunday, the New Orleans Pelicans (34-24) have dropped two straight to finish 1-2 in a three-game home stand following the All-Star break.
Prior to the week-long hiatus, the Pels won three in a row and seven of their last 10.
A day after definitively defeating the Houston Rockets 127-105, New Orleans fell short to the Miami Heat following a final quarter marred by an on-court altercation that ended in the suspension of five players, including two Pelicans.
Naji Marshall was suspended for the Bulls game, while Pels teammate Jose Alvarado is serving a three-game suspension for their roles in a scuffle that started when Miami’s Kevin Love fouled New Orleans’ Zion Williamson under the Pelicans’ basket. Jimmy Butler and Marshall “engaged in a physical altercation” after the foul, the league said, and Alvarado and Thomas Bryant then fought.
Alvarado, Bryant, Butler and Marshall were assessed technical fouls and ejected from the game, while Miami’s Nikola Jovic also got a one-game suspension for leaving the bench area and entering the altercation.
With the Knicks up next in New York, Pelicans head coach Willie Green is happy to have Marshall back in the lineup.
"Glad to have 'Naj' back," Green said during a Monday afternoon media briefing at the team's training facility in Metairie. "He brings a ton of energy for us. Another one of our big wings that can defend, that can shoot and that can handle the ball and initiate plays for us."
When asked about what he believes Marshall brings to the team, Green spoke of his edginess and how he feels about the trait.
"I love it. I love it," said Green. "He brings the edge and you know it's just who he is. So he's not trying to be anything outside of who he is. But you got to be careful if you cross that line with it."
With only 24 games remaining in the regular season, now-seventh place New Orleans needs to make the most of their opportunities to avoid a third-straight NBA Western Conference Play-in into the post-season.
"You can feel the games being meaningful, you can feel every game ... it's high stakes," said Green. "It's a fun time of year, and you want to put yourself in a position to be able to play in the postseason. And for us, it's about taking care of business."
Green said guard C.J. McCollum McCollum, who missed the Bulls game due to a left ankle sprain against the Heat, participated in a full practice on Monday and trending in the right direction.
McCollum is listed as day-to-day.
Pelicans center Jonas Valančiūnas also spoke with media following Monday's practice:
The Pelicans play the Knicks (34-23) on Tuesday.
Tipoff set for 6:30 p.m.
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