Day: November 23, 2024

New Orleans Pelicans guard C.J. McCollum is hopeful to return to the lineup on Monday at the Indiana Pacers. McCollum has been out since October 29 due to a strained right adductor muscle.

McCollum made it through a full practice, with contact, on Saturday. That has the veteran guard ready to return on Monday.

The Pelicans are still without Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, Herb Jone and Jose Alvarado due to long-term injuries. New Orleans recently welcomed Brandon Ingram, Trey Murphy III and Jordan Hawkins back to the lineup.

Joel Embiid is dealing with swelling in his left knee, leading him to miss Friday’s win over the Brooklyn Nets and he has also been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the LA Clippers.

Embiid wasn’t originally listed on the injury report Friday morning after he played 35 minutes and scored 35 points with 11 rebounds in a loss at the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.

Embiid was expected to test his knee and make a decision on his status for Friday, but he never took the court and was ruled out 30 minutes before tipoff.

The Sixers are also without Paul George, who suffered another hyperextended knee this week.

Zion Williamson and Creative Arts Agency have silt ways. The reason for the split is not immediately known. Austin Brown, Williamson’s primary representative at CAA, did not return messages seeking comment.

Williamson signed a five-year, $197 million contract extension with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2022 that was to begin in the 2023-24 season, but the final three years of the contract are not guaranteed.

The Pelicans have the contractual power to waive Williamson after this season with no financial ramifications. Williamson has been dominant when he plays, with career averages of 24.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and a shooting percentage near 60 percent. But his career has been slowed down by injury.

Williamson appeared in 70 games last season for the Pelicans, but was injured in the Play-In and missed the entirety of their first round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.