Meanwhile, the backup show in Utah likely won’t take advantage of a flimsy New Orleans defense. While the Pelicans are just 22nd in the league in points allowed per game (110.7) and 25th in defensive rating (110.8), Keyonte George is the only player available for the Jazz averaging double-digit points (16.5).

James is on the verge of 50,000 career points — between the regular season and playoffs — after scoring 17 on Sunday night in the Los Angeles Lakers ' 108-102 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. The Lakers' next game is on Tuesday at home versus the New Orleans Pelicans at 10:30 p.m. ET.

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Teams trending in opposite directions clash when the New Orleans Pelicans battle the Phoenix Suns in a Western Conference matchup on Thursday. New Orleans is coming off a 109-103 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday,

The New Orleans Pelicans earned a franchise changing prospect in latest NBA Mock Draft, landing the No. 1 pick and selecting Duke prospect Cooper Flagg to bolster roster and afford New Orleans a bounce back season.

The NBA trade deadline was the busiest in league history, with over 60 players changing hands including a pair of former Gonzaga Bulldogs. Zach Collins was part of a three-team trade that landed Zach LaVine in Sacramento and De'Aaron Fox in San Antonio, while he went to Chicago to help steer the tanking team toward a top pick.