The New Orleans Pelicans and Brooklyn Nets have combined for 100 losses and 84 different starting lineups.
While injuries derailed the Pelicans following a 49-win season, the Nets went into this season starting a rebuild. Regardless of the circumstances, two teams playing out the string get together Tuesday night in Brooklyn.
The Pelicans (21-57) are attempting to avoid the second 60-loss season in team history and first since going 18-64 in 2004-05. New Orleans also enters the game with a 12 percent chance at getting the top overall pick as the Pels sit two games in front of the Charlotte Hornets for the NBA’s third-worst record.
The Pelicans are well out of the running because of an extensive injury report that includes Zion Williamson (back), CJ McCollum (foot) and Dejounte Murray (leg), all of whom are done for the season. The trio started together in five games in January before Murray was lost for the season, then Williamson and McCollum recently were shut down.
The Pelicans have used 24 players this season and, other than McCollum’s 56 starts, Yves Missi (66 starts) and Trey Murphy III (51 starts) have been the most consistent presences in the lineup — though Murphy (shoulder) also is done for the season. Missi notched his 14th double-double when the rookie totaled 18 points and 12 rebounds in Sunday’s 111-107 home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
With five rotation players out for the season, the Pelicans are taking looks at players such as rookie Antonio Reeves, who scored 23 points in his third career start on Sunday. Reeves joined the lineup alongside Missi, Keion Brooks, Bruce Brown and Elfrid Payton on a night when Jose Alvarado sat out due to a sore calf.
“He’s ready for those moments when we put him on the floor,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “So that’s what you want to see in not just your young players, all your players, but especially your young guys, is taking advantage of the opportunities.”
The Nets hold the NBA’s sixth-worst record and a nine-percent chance at winning the lottery in a draft in which they control four first-round picks. Brooklyn began the season 9-10, but has gone 16-43 since while getting long looks at players such as Reece Beekman, Drew Timme and Maxwell Lewis.
“Very happy with how the season has gone, from the relationship with ownership, front office, the direction of the vision, the plan, the execution, where we’re at,” Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernandez said. “We have a very important summer in front of us, for obvious reasons,”
Beekman and Timme made their first career NBA starts Sunday when the Nets used their 40th different starting five in a 120-109 loss to the Toronto Raptors. Brooklyn committed a season-worst 24 turnovers in their fifth straight double-digit home loss since an eight-point win over the Atlanta Hawks on March 16.
Beekman, acquired from the Golden State Warriors in December for Dennis Schroder, led the Nets with 14 points in 36 minutes. Timme added 13 and has reached double figures in three of his five games since joining the Nets on March 28.
The Nets rested Nic Claxton, Cameron Johnson (back) and D’Angelo Russell (ankle). While Claxton has been cleared to Tuesday, it is highly possible the Nets shut down Johnson and Russell for the final four games. Johnson and Russell were ruled out for Tuesday.
–Field Level Media
