In more ways than one, the final 15 seconds of the third quarter in Saturday’s win at Sacramento were brutal for Jrue Holiday. First, he had a basket in the paint taken away due to a Kings replay challenge, resulting in an offensive foul tacked on for Holiday. Worse, with 4 seconds remaining in the period, he was illegally screened by Harry Giles. That offensive foul call went in favor of New Orleans, but the fallout from the physical contact has resonated to the next two Pelicans games. After sustaining a bruised left elbow in the collision with Giles, Holiday was sidelined for Monday’s two-point loss to Utah, and he also will be out Wednesday vs. Chicago. It’s uncertain when the 11-year NBA veteran will return to action, but he’d already been ruled out of the Bulls game 24 hours earlier, when New Orleans (12-25) released its official injury report.
After Wednesday’s shootaround, asked when he might be able to play a game, Holiday responded, “I don’t know. We still have to let the swelling go down. From there, we’ll kind of evaluate and see where the pain is.”
The Pelicans are 0-3 this season when Holiday doesn’t play, including a three-point loss at Houston on Oct. 26 and an 11-point home defeat vs. Golden State two days later.
Other notes from shootaround:
Holiday on Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who played 15 minutes Monday vs. Utah and notched five points, five rebounds and two assists, including a highlight-reel alley oop feed to Jaxson Hayes: “We’ve seen it before. Sometimes it’s kind of hard when you have so many good players on one team. Some people just have to get the short end of the stick. Nickeil always stays ready, comes in and gets his work in. Nothing fazes him. I think that’s very mature and big for his first year.”
Alexander-Walker’s minutes vs. the Jazz were the most he had logged since Dec. 17 vs. Brooklyn. …
Lonzo Ball has registered four straight games of 20-plus points, by far the best offensive stretch of his three-year NBA career. Holiday on Ball’s performance: “A lot of (it is) confidence, which is good. When your shot is falling, that opens up everything and builds confidence. He’s always been able to pass, push the pace, get to the basket. I think him being fully healthy and able to attack the basket, feel comfortable going in there, also helps out. He’s been playing great.” …
Despite relying on many young players, Chicago (13-24) is ranked seventh in defensive efficiency, unusual performance from a team without a lot of experience. Alexander-Walker on what the Pelicans must focus on while facing the Bulls: “Making sure you’re getting good possessions. You never want to leave one behind empty-handed. Whatever you do, make sure you’re executing and studying the game plan. We know what kind of defense they play. Wherever our shots are going to be, making sure we’re trying to exploit that.”
