Anthony Davis (calf) will return on Friday to face the Lakers, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

After a lengthy absence, AD will return to face his former team, and fantasy managers should have no reservations about getting him into lineups. Dallas plays a Friday-Saturday back-to-back set, and there’s a good chance he sits out the second leg against the Clippers.

Anthony Davis (calf) is questionable for Friday’s game against the Lakers.

Davis was coy when asked which game he would want to return for, as the Mavericks end Week 6 with games against the Lakers and Clippers. However, while a return on Friday is possible, he’s been listed as questionable in the past, only to be ruled out. If Davis plays against the Lakers, don’t expect to see him on the court Saturday night against the Clippers. P.J. Washington will likely head to the bench once Davis is cleared.

Jose Alvarado produced 24 points (9-of-15 FGs), five rebounds, two assists, two steals and six three-pointers in Wednesday’s loss to the Grizzlies.

One game removed from scoring 16 points and giving the Pelicans a needed boost off the bench in a win over the Bulls, Alvarado was even better on Wednesday. He recorded season-highs in points and three-pointers while finishing a blocked shot shy of a complete stat line. Jeremiah Fears (10/2/3 with one three-pointer in 26 minutes) remains the starting point guard, but Alvarado’s increased playing time and production make him worth a look in deeper leagues.

Derik Queen recorded 10 points (5-of-8 FGs), two rebounds, nine assists, one steal and one blocked shot in Wednesday’s loss to the Grizzlies.

As was the case in Monday’s win over the Bulls, Yves Missi (6/6/3/0/3) played more minutes than Queen. However, the split was closer to even, with Missi logging 29 minutes and Queen 24. The rookie did record nine assists, two shy of his season high, and his ability to facilitate offense should raise Queen’s fantasy ceiling in time. He has provided seventh-round value over two weeks, so losing playing to Missi has not done too much harm to Queen’s value.

Jordan Hawkins shot 5-of-9 from the field in Wednesday’s loss to the Grizzlies, scoring 14 points with one rebound, one assist, one steal, one block and four three-pointers.

Not only did Hawkins hit double figures for the second time this season on Wednesday, but he notched season-highs in points and three-pointers. However, for as productive as he was in 15 minutes of action, Hawkins is not at the point where he should be rostered in redraft leagues. Wednesday’s performance may have earned him another shot at rotation minutes, especially with Herb Jones out, but it changes nothing in terms of Hawkins’ fantasy value.

Saddiq Bey amassed 18 points (6-of-13 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), 11 rebounds, two assists, three steals, one block and four three-pointers in Wednesday’s loss to the Grizzlies.

Bey extended his double-double streak to three games on Wednesday, and he remains a starter with Herb Jones unavailable. Over the past week, the Pelicans forward has been a top-50 player in nine-cat formats. We’re at the point where Bey can be trusted in a higher percentage of Yahoo! leagues, especially since he’s starting alongside Zion Williamson (17/5/4/0/2). And New Orleans ending Week 6 with a Saturday/Sunday back-to-back is another reason to consider adding Bey.

When asked in a Wednesday interview whether he’d prefer to return on Friday against the Lakers or Saturday against the Clippers, Anthony Davis (calf) said, “That’s a real question? You know what game I want to play.”

“But we’ll see,” Davis went on to say. “We’ll have a conversation and see what makes the most sense with the medical and coaching staff.” Davis is surely motivated to take the court against his former team, and fantasy managers should keep an eye on his status leading up to Friday’s tip-off. It’s unclear if Davis will play in both legs of Dallas’ back-to-back set, but if he plays Friday, he should be considered questionable on Saturday.

Jordan Hawkins (personal) is not on the injury report for Wednesday’s game agianst the Grizzlies.

Hawkins is back with the team after a personal matter kept him away for Monday’s win over the Bulls. While his playing time has increased since James Borrego was named interim head coach, Hawkins is not likely to get the minutes he needs to affect fantasy basketball.

Dereck Lively II (foot) will miss the next three games.

Following a Marc Stein report that Lively was feared to miss extended time with a foot injury, the Mavericks provided a formal update on the 21-year-old center’s health. Lively is set to miss the team’s upcoming three games and another update will be provided in 7-10 days. Until then, Daniel Gafford will start at center for Dallas.

NBA Insider Marc Stein reports Dereck Lively II (knee) is feared to miss extended time.

NBA Insider Marc Stein reports Dereck Lively II (foot) is feared to miss extended time.

Lively was held out of Monday’s loss to the Heat with right foot injury management after having offseason foot surgery. Now the 21-year-old center is feared to miss an extended portion of the season, according to Stein. Daniel Gafford will continue to start at center with Lively out and Anthony Davis is due back soon to strengthen the frontcourt.

NBA Insider Marc Stein reports Anthony Davis (calf) is scheduled to practice on Wednesday.

Davis has been out since the end of October with a calf injury. The 32-year-old power forward is closing in on a return with his participation in practice being a necessary hurdle he has to clear. The Mavericks play the Lakers in Los Angeles on Friday and Davis’ motivations to be available for that game should be obvious, though he remains without a firm timetable for return.

Daniel Gafford added 11 points (4-of-9 FGs, 3-of-3 FTs), 11 rebounds, one steal and two blocks in the loss to the Heat on Monday.

Gafford was productive on the offense and defensive glass en route to recording a team-high in rebounds on Monday. And despite an unspectacular shooting percentage, he made his way into double figures as a scorer en route to collecting his first double-double of the season. Anthony Davis’ return is likely near, which could have implications for Gafford’s production going forward. Nonetheless, he was effective on Monday.

Saddiq Bey produced 20 points (8-of-16 FGs, 1-of-4 FTs), 13 rebounds, three assists, two steals and three three-pointers in Monday’s win over the Bulls.

For the first time since December 2023, Bey has recorded a double-double in consecutive games. In Monday’s victory, he also notched his third 20-point game of the season and has provided unexpected deep-league fantasy value in New Orleans. Usually Zion Williamson’s replacement in the lineup when he’s unavailable, Bey started alongside him on Monday, as the Pelicans are without Herb Jones. With New Orleans having three more games in Week 6, Bey is worth a look in 14-team leagues.

Trey Murphy recorded 20 points (7-of-16 FGs, 2-of-3 FTs), four rebounds, four assists, two steals and four three-pointers in Monday’s win over the Bulls.

Murphy has scored at least 20 points in eight of his last 10 games, a stretch in which he’s provided top-20 value in nine-cat formats according to Basketball Monster. Having a healthy Zion Williamson on the court certainly helps New Orleans, but it’s Murphy who has the most varied offensive skill set of the team’s rotation players. Expected to be a top-50 player based on his Yahoo! ADP (42), Trey has been a second-round player so far.

Zion Williamson accumulated 29 points (8-of-14 FGs, 13-of-16 FTs), one rebound, two assists, two steals and one blocked shot in Monday’s win over the Bulls.

Three Pelicans starters scored at least 20 points on Monday, with Williamson leading the way. He had a big night at the foul line, making 13 of his 16 attempts, and Zion is shooting 69.3 percent for the season. While that percentage isn’t high enough to prevent Williamson managers from punting that category, it’s nearly four points higher than his 2024-25 mark (65.6 percent). After a slow start to the season, he’s closing in on top-100 value in eight-cat formats, which is good news for those who have Williamson rostered.

Jose Alvarado accounted for 15 points (7-of-16 FGs), eight rebounds, eight assists, two steals and two three-pointers in Monday’s win over the Bulls.

Alvarado was one of the Pelicans’ reserves who gave the team a welcome spark on Monday, and he finished with one of his best stat lines of the season. Alvarado finished two rebounds and two assists shy of a triple-double, with the latter tally representing a new season-high. Jeremiah Fears (15/4/3 with two three-pointers) is the starter and will remain in that role for the foreseeable future, which limits Alvarado’s fantasy value. But he’s capable of chipping in when needed, as was the case on Monday.

Yves Missi tallied 14 points (7-of-11 FGs), 14 rebounds and three blocks in Monday’s win over the Bulls.

While the Pelicans scored 74 points in the first half, that did not keep interim head coach James Borrego from making a few lineup changes. Missi and Jose Alvarado were inserted into the lineup, with rookies Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen (8/5/4/1/1 in 17 minutes) being bumped to the bench. Missi had his best game of the season, recording a double-double with season-highs in points and rebounds. Add in the blocked shots, and Monday’s effort was a step in the right direction for the second-year center. As long as Queen remains the starter, there isn’t much to gain from rostering Missi right now. But keep an eye on him, as his value may expand during the “silly season.”

Cooper Flagg finished Monday’s loss to the Heat with 12 points (5-of-14 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Flagg’s performance on Monday was unspectacular. He shot inefficiently from the field, failed to register a make from beyond the arc, and finished with three assists to three turnovers. He’s struggled with his shooting in his two games since notching a career-high 29 points, but has remained solid on the glass. The Mavericks, who have lost four of their past five games, could benefit from more production from Flagg as the rookie continues to get more reps under his belt.

P.J. Washington added 27 points (10-of-20 FGs, 4-of-4 FTs), eight rebounds, one assist, two blocks and three three-pointers in Monday’s loss to the Heat.

Washington was Dallas’ most productive player on Monday. He was the only one to score at least 20 points, and was one of three players on Dallas to pour in three makes from beyond the arc. The veteran forward also excelled on defense, accounting for nearly half of the team’s blocks. With Anthony Davis’ return seemingly near, it’ll be interesting to see whether Washington’s performance is affected. He’s averaging 22.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.0 threes over the past three games.

Jeremiah Fears, Trey Murphy, Saddiq Bey, Zion Williamson and Derik Queen will start Monday’s game against the Bulls.

Williamson is back after sitting out Saturday’s loss to the Hawks, so he returns to the starting lineup. Micah Peavy heads to the bench, where he offers limited fantasy value at best. With Herb Jones still out due to injury, Saddiq Bey will continue to start.

Brandon Williams (back) is available for Monday’s game against the Heat.

Williams is officially available after the Mavericks listed him as questionable on the initial injury report. He’ll handle the starting point guard duties, with D’Angelo Russell serving as the primary backup. Ryan Nembhard (knee) is also available, but the rookie is unlikely to get the run needed to merit being rostered in redraft leagues.

Ryan Nembhard (knee) is available for Monday’s game against the Heat.

Nembhard is available after a five-game absence with a sprained left knee. D’Angelo Russell (illness) is also available, so the rookie guard is unlikely to get the opportunities needed to impact fantasy basketball. However, Nembhard could crack the rotation if Brandon Williams (back) can’t go. Dallas’ starting point guard is a game-time decision.

Anthony Davis (calf) will not play on Monday against the Heat.

Monday’s absence will mark the 14th straight missed game for Davis, as he continues to work his way back from a calf injury. The Mavericks have posted a 3-10 record since the injury and continue to have poor health luck to begin the season. Naji Marshall and P.J. Washington are two forwards who could continue to see increased opportunities with Davis out of the lineup. According to Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd, there’s hope that Davis will be able to practice on Wednesday.

Kevon Looney (heel) is available for Monday’s game against the Bulls.

Looney is dealing with a right heel contusion, but is available for Monday’s game against the Bulls. The 29-year-old power forward will have his usual bench role backing up Derik Queen.

Jordan Hawkins (personal) is out for Monday’s game against the Bulls.

Hawkins has played nearly 18 minutes per game since James Borrego took over as the Pelicans’ coach. The 23-year-old guard will be out Monday as he’s dealing with a personal matter. Hawkins’ absence will impact the Pelicans’ rotation, but won’t change much from a fantasy basketball perspective.

Kevon Looney (heel) is questionable for Monday’s game against the Bulls.

Looney, who has a right heel contusion, played 14 minutes off the bench in Saturday’s loss to the Hawks. If cleared to play on Monday, he’ll take on a similar role, which does not affect fantasy basketball. If Looney sits, DeAndre Jordan may pick up a few minutes backing up starter Derik Queen.

Herb Jones (calf) is out for Monday’s game against the Bulls.

Jones has a strained right calf, and that’s an injury that can cost a player multiple games. Rookie Micah Peavy moved into the starting lineup for Saturday’s loss to the Hawks, and while the production wasn’t there, he did play 27 minutes. Peavy is only a watchlist player if he gets another opportunity to start on Monday, and that is generous.

Ryan Nembhard (knee) is questionable for Monday’s game against the Heat.

Nembhard has missed Dallas’s last five games with a sprained left knee. His absence has not affected fantasy basketball, as rotation minutes have not been guaranteed for the rookie guard. Nembhard has appeared in five games this season with a high of 16 minutes.

Brandon Williams (back) is questionable for Monday’s game against the Heat.

Williams is dealing with lower back tightness, which is why he appears on the injury report. D’Angelo Russell (illness) is available, so he can absorb some of the minutes that would usually go to Williams if he cannot play. In this scenario, D’Lo would be worth picking up in deep leagues.

D’Angelo Russell (illness) is not on the injury report for Monday’s game against the Heat.

Russell sat out Saturday’s loss to the Grizzlies, with his playing time divvied up among multiple reserves due to Jaden Hardy struggling in his 12 minutes on the floor. Hardy will likely fall out of the rotation entirely on Monday, unless starting guard Brandon Williams can’t play. He’s questionable due to lower back tightness.

Anthony Davis (calf) is doubtful for Monday’s game against the Heat.

Davis is expected to be re-evaluated early this upcoming week, so a return could occur soon. However, that isn’t guaranteed. The doubtful tag for Monday suggests he won’t be available to play against the Heat. With Davis out, P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall are worth a look in deeper fantasy leagues and some standard leagues as well.

Derik Queen scored a team-high 20 points (6-of-14 FGs, 8-of-8 FTs), nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block over 32 minutes during Saturday’s loss to the Hawks.

The Pelicans came out lifeless on the second night of a back-to-back, starting three rookies for the first time this season with Zion Williamson (hamstring) and Herb Jones (back) sidelined, and quickly fell behind by 10 at halftime. Queen was one of the lone bright spots, eclipsing the 20-point mark for the third straight game. New Orleans has dropped nine straight games and sits at a brutal 2–15 on the season. They’ll open a four-game week on Monday against the Bulls before matchups with the Grizzlies, Warriors and Lakers.

PJ Washington (back) finished Saturday’s loss to the Grizzlies with 15 points (7-of-17 FGs, 0-of-1 FTs), eight rebounds, four assists, one steal, two blocks and one three-pointer.

Washington appeared to tweak something in his lower back on a shot attempt with just under five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game, immediately heading back to the locker room after exiting. The good news is that he was back on the bench for the finish. With Anthony Davis (calf) essentially out indefinitely, Washington has added value, even if his game isn’t exactly “fantasy-friendly.” Hopefully, his name won’t show up on the injury report for Monday’s game against the Heat.

Brandon Williams accounted for 18 points (6-of-11 FGs, 4-of-4 FTs), three rebounds, four assists, one steal and two three-pointers in Saturday’s loss to the Grizzlies.

With D’Angelo Russell (illness) ruled out, Williams surpassed the 30-minute mark for the first time in five games. He had a good night, shooting over 50 percent from the field and recording everything but a blocked shot in the 102-96 defeat. Rostered in 18 percent of Yahoo! leagues, Williams is ranked just outside the top-100 in eight-cat formats. He doesn’t have the highest ceiling, but Williams is worth a roll of the dice as long as he continues to start. Dallas plays three games in Week 6, beginning with the Heat on Monday.

Klay Thompson shot 7-of-17 from the field and 2-of-2 from the foul line in Saturday’s loss to the Grizzlies, scoring 22 points with one rebound and six three-pointers.

Things got a bit heated during and after Saturday’s game, but that may have done Thompson some good. He recorded his first 20-point game of the season against the Grizzlies and hit a season-high six three-pointers. Thompson didn’t provide value in any other categories, a reminder that he doesn’t offer much in fantasy basketball beyond being a specialist at this stage in his career. The ceiling is slightly higher due to Dallas’ many injuries, but Klay should not be rostered in most leagues.

D’Angelo Russell (illness) is out for Saturday’s game against the Grizzlies.

Russell has been downgraded from questionable to out, leaving the Mavericks light on options at point guard. Brandon Williams’ status as the starter is unchanged, but there will be more minutes available to Jaden Hardy. Hardy is not worth the streaming risk, even with the increased playing time.

Jeremiah Fears, Trey Murphy, Micah Peavy, Saddiq Bey and Derik Queen will start Saturday’s game against the Hawks.

The Pelicans are down two starters for Saturday’s game, with Herb Jones and Zion Williamson unavailable. They’ve been replaced in the lineup by Peavy and Bey, with the former making his first start as a pro. Of the two, Bey is the superior streaming option.

Herb Jones (back) is out for Saturday’s game against the Hawks.

For the first time this season, the Pelicans won’t have Jones in their starting lineup. Saddiq Bey and Jordan Hawkins are two players whose minutes may increase due to Jones’ absence, with the former offering a higher fantasy ceiling. However, neither player is a must-stream option in this spot.

Ryan Nembhard (knee) is doubtful for Saturday’s game against the Grizzlies.

Less than a week after Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said he hoped the rookie would only be out for two to three weeks, Nembhard is doubtful for Saturday night. If he’s somehow cleared to play, the point guard is unlikely to get the minutes needed to impact fantasy basketball. Leave Nembhard on the waiver wire.

D’Angelo Russell (illness) is questionable for Saturday’s game against the Grizzlies.

Russell missed Friday’s win over the Pelicans with an illness. Jaden Hardy had 11 points in 14 minutes off the bench and could get even more of an opportunity against the Grizzlies on Saturday if Russell were to be out again. Hardy still isn’t worth the risk to stream just yet.

Dereck Lively II (knee) is out for Saturday’s game against the Grizzlies.

Lively had four points in 18 minutes in the Mavericks’ win over the Pelicans on Friday night. The 21-year-old center is going to miss the second game of a back-to-back against the Grizzlies on Saturday for injury management reasons. Daniel Gafford will start at center with Lively out.

Herbert Jones (back) is questionable for Saturday’s game against the Hawks.

Jones popped up on the injury report as questionable with a back injury on Saturday afternoon. The 27-year-old small forward is known as one of the best wing defenders in the league, but his offensive struggles persist. Jones is shooting a career-low 39 percent from the field in 16 games so far this season.

Karlo Matković (calf) is out for Saturday’s game against the Hawks.

This will be Matković’s third consecutive missed game with a strained calf. With Zion Williamson also out Saturday, expect Derik Queen and Yves Missi to handle the front court duties for the Pelicans against the Hawks.

Zion Williamson (hamstring) is out for Saturday’s game against the Hawks.

Zion played 29 minutes and had 22 points against the Mavericks on Friday. The 25-year-old power forward will sit out the second game of a back-to-back against the Hawks on Saturday with left hamstring injury management. Saddiq Bey should see additional minutes Saturday with Williamson out.

Cooper Flagg exploded for a career-high 29 points (12-of-19 FGs, 5-of-6 FTs), seven rebounds, five assists and two steals over 32 minutes to lead the Mavericks to a 118-115 win over the Pelicans.

This wound up being a thrilling showdown between the next generation of up-and-coming stars for a pair of cellar-dwelling Western Conference squads with Flagg serving as the Mavericks’ primary offensive catalyst throughout the night. The 18-year-old prodigy showed zero signs of rust following a one-game absence due to illness earlier this week, knocking down 12 of 15 shots from inside three-point range, while routinely getting into the paint to take advantage of his size, athleticism and shot-creating ability. He was especially clutch in the late stages of this one, scoring 21 of his points in the second-half. He’s in the midst of an extremely strong stretch, averaging just under 22 points per-game over his last three contests, delivering fourth-round value for fantasy purposes during that span.

Trey Murphy III amassed a team-high 25 points (7-of-14 FGs, 10-of-10 FTs), three rebounds, three steals and one block over 35 minutes during Friday’s narrow defeat at the hands of the Mavericks.

Murphy helped New Orleans race out to an early lead in this one as he went off for a game-high 15 points in the first half before cooling off down the home stretch as their lead evaporated for good. The 25-year-old’s name has surfaced in trade rumors recently and he would seemingly be the most impactful non-Zion trade asset for the franchise if they continue their present trajectory and are forced to pivot towards the future. The fact that they gave up next year’s first-round pick over the summer to land Derik Queen in the draft.

P.J. Washington accumulated 24 points (8-of-14 FGs, 3-of-4 FTs), nine rebounds, one assist, one steal and three blocks over 37 minutes in Friday’s victory over the Pelicans.

With less than one week until Thanksgiving, Washington set the table early with a stat sheet-stuffing performance for fantasy managers as he drained five three-pointers and gobbled up nine rebounds, falling just shy of his third double-double of the season. The 27-year-old sharpshooter did most of his damage in the early stages of this one as he notched 14 points in the first half, but he managed to come up with a clutch rebound in the final seconds to deny the Pelicans any opportunity to hoist a potential game-tying shot at the buzzer.

Zion Williamson tallied 22 points (7-of-9 FGs, 8-of-11 FTs), three rebounds, two assists and three blocks over 29 minutes during Friday’s loss to the Mavericks.

Williamson looked much sharper in his second game back following an eight-game absence earlier this month with a hamstring injury as he shot a robust 78 percent from the floor and got to the free throw line for 11 attempts. The 25-year-old possesses the upside to be one of the most impactful players in the fantasy landscape but persistent injury issues continue to prevent him from reaching his lofty ceiling. He was limited to just 29 minutes in this contest and fantasy managers should expect the Pelicans to keep a governor on his workload for the immediate future.

Max Christie went off for a season-high 23 points (7-of-12 FGs, 4-of-4 FTs), three rebounds, one steal and one block over 31 minutes during Friday’s win over the Pelicans.

Christie knocked down five of nine shots, including three from downtown, as part of a 17-point second-half eruption to power Dallas to a comeback win. He drained a pair of free throws in the closing seconds to give the Mavericks a three-point advantage which they didn’t relinquish. The 22-year-old guard is averaging a career-high 5.8 three-point attempts through 17 games, shooting an absurdly high 46.9 percent so far. There’s some regression looming, but he’s going to have plenty of opportunities for the injury-depleted Mavericks in the coming months.

Derik Queen recorded 20 points (8-of-17 FGs, 4-of-5 FTs), seven rebounds, 11 assists and one steal over 32 minutes in Friday’s loss to the Mavericks.

Queen is showing exactly why the Pelicans paid a king’s ransom to jump back into the first round for him, averaging 17 points, 7.8 rebounds, six assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks over his last four games — delivering fourth-round value for fantasy managers during that stretch. The 20-year-old lottery pick has stepped into a significant role for New Orleans and has topped 20 points in three of his last six outings. He delivered the first double-double of his career in this one, and an unconventional one at that, handing out 11 assists from his frontcourt spot. He’s not going to morph into a fantasy superstar overnight, but the trajectory is unmistakable — his arrow is pointing straight up.

D’Angelo Russell (illness) is out for Friday’s game against the Pelicans.

Initially questionable for Friday’s game, Russell will not be available. Brandon Williams’ status as the starting point guard does not change, but D’Lo being out should result in more minutes for fellow reserve Jaden Hardy. Hardy is not worth the streaming risk in this role.

Dereck Lively II (knee) is available for Friday’s game against the Pelicans.

Lively had four points and 10 rebounds in 18 minutes in Wednesday’s game against the Knicks. The 21-year-old center has been active for three of the last four Mavericks games following his return from a right knee injury. Lively and Daniel Gafford handle the center duties against the Pelicans on Friday.

D’Angelo Russell (illness) is questionable for Friday’s matchup with the Pelicans.

This is a new illness for D’Lo, and his appearance on the injury report so late on a Friday means he should be considered a game-time call. Brandon Williams has started each of Dallas’ last six games and played well, but Russell’s absence could free up some additional playing time for Jaden Hardy off the bench.

Karlo Matković (calf) is out for Friday’s game against the Mavericks.

This will now be the second straight game that Matković has missed with a strained calf. The Pelicans’ rotation won’t be overly impacted with Zion Williamson cleared to play.

Pelicans head coach James Borrego said, “Zion Williamson did go through a full practice today,” but he is listed as questionable for Friday’s game against the Mavericks with his hamstring injury.

Not only did Zion go through a full practice, but he “came in early to get extra work in.” Borrego “said the team still hasn’t determined if Zion will be cleared to play in back-to-backs,” and the Pelicans will also take on the Hawks on Saturday, so the team may be determining which game they’d like him to suit up for. The Mavericks game feels more winnable and, thus, like the more likely game for Zion.

Pelicans head coach James Borrego said, “Zion Williamson did go through a full practice today,” and he is now off the injury report for Friday’s game against the Mavericks.

Not only did Zion go through a full practice, but he “came in early to get extra work in.” Borrego “said the team still hasn’t determined if Zion will be cleared to play in back-to-backs,” so there is c chance that the Pelicans will hold him out against the Hawks on Saturday.

Pelicans head coach James Borrego said, “Zion Williamson did go through a full practice [on Thursday],” and he is now off the injury report for Friday’s game against the Mavericks.

Not only did Zion go through a full practice, but he “came in early to get extra work in.” Borrego “said the team still hasn’t determined if Zion will be cleared to play in back-to-backs,” so there is a chance that the Pelicans will hold him out against the Hawks on Saturday.

Forbes’ Evan Sidery reports that “Trey Murphy III is widely viewed as one of the most coveted potential trade deadline targets.”

The Pelicans are just 2-13 and are tied for the second-worst record in basketball; however, they do not control the rights to their own first-round draft pick after the move to trade up and get Derik Queen this past draft. Sidery reports that “rival executives believe the Pelicans could net three first-round picks and multiple high-end prospects in return for Murphy.” That kind of package would be enticing to a team that is at the bottom of the standings with no upcoming first-round draft pick.

Trey Murphy III had 23 points (7-of-14 FGs, 4-of-4 FTs), two rebounds, three assists, five steals, one block and five three-pointers against the Nuggets on Wednesday.

Murphy has had at least three turnovers in each over his last four games. The 25-year-old small forward is averaging a career-high 2.1 turnovers this year. Murphy was more aggressive with his three-point shot once again, attempting at least 11 threes for the second time in his last five games. Murphy and the Pelicans will be back on the court against the Mavericks on Friday.