Pelicans shootaround update: Jose Alvarado excited to make 2023-24 debut at home

New Orleans level guard Jose Alvarado hasn’t performed in an NBA recreation in more or less 9 months, along with his remaining look at the Smoothie King Center hardwood coming Feb. 27 of remaining season vs. Orlando. So when he contemplated his pleasure to make his 2023-24 debut Monday in opposition to Sacramento, he temporarily thought of how a lot he loves taking part in in entrance of 17,000 Crescent City lovers.

“I missed them,” Alvarado mentioned of lovers at Pelicans home video games. “I missed the noise. I missed their voices.”

New Orleans basketball aficionados were announcing the similar factor about Alvarado in recent times. The Pelicans were with out their Energizer bunny, crowd favourite and second-unit catalyst all the way through a 6-7 get started to the common season, however the Georgia Tech product mentioned he’ll play in opposition to the Kings.

“I’m back,” Alvarado mentioned after Monday’s shootaround. “I’m excited. Just to be saying I’m back is cool. I haven’t played basketball for what feels like forever. I’m glad to put a uniform on and try to get my team a win as best I can.”

Whether it’s his patented “sneaky steals” that NBA.com documented with a whole video bundle, his end-to-end defensive power, or his dynamic offensive recreation (38-point eruption vs. Denver remaining season, 2.79 profession assist-to-turnover ratio), Alvarado continuously ignites the home crowd. He’s having a look ahead to producing a play that does that once more in New Orleans.

“I just hope I get a steal or an excitement play,” he mentioned of Monday’s recreation in entrance of home supporters. “Hopefully I’m screaming to them (and) I’m going to yell with them. I just can’t wait to be in that atmosphere.”

Other notes from shootaround:

Alvarado at the contributions of alternative New Orleans guards and wings lately: “There are a lot of guys who stepped up. We’re rolling. It’s a long season. All the young guys stepped up, Jordan Hawkins, Dyson (Daniels). I’m glad they got a good start, and we’ll just roll from there.” …

Asked what he wanted to go back to recreation motion, Alvarado mentioned, “Making sure I could fit the criteria – sprinting, cutting, jumping and maintaining it at a high level. They did a great job, the medical staff, keeping me in the right mindset, even when it was hard. It was a great recovery. Now I’m excited to show what I’ve been hiding around for a while.”

Offensive potency rank: 11 (114.7)
Defensive potency rank: 14 (112.1)
Net ranking: +2.6 (9)
Streak: Won 6

Go-to man: Point guard De’Aaron Fox has now not performed sufficient video games but to formally qualify for the leaderboard, however he’s necessarily the NBA’s second-best scorer at 31.9 issues according to recreation. The maximum significant Fox statistic, although, could be that Sacramento is 6-1 in Fox’s seven appearances, however simply 2-3 when he’s sidelined via harm, together with shedding via 18 and 25 issues in consecutive contemporary matchups at Houston. Fox already has 4 video games of 30-plus issues this season, crowned via 43 at San Antonio on Friday in an In-Season Tournament recreation.

On the upward thrust: Fox (8th position) and Malik Monk (eleventh) each won vital votes in Most Improved Player vote casting remaining season. Now in his moment marketing campaign with Sacramento, reserve guard Monk has endured his profession transformation after up-and-down years with Charlotte, taking pictures 41.7 % from three-point vary (coincidentally, that’s additionally Fox’s price from deep this season). Monk is the Kings’ No. 4 scorer, in spite of coming off the bench for all 12 video games.

De’Aaron Fox, Chris Duarte, Keegan Murray, Harrison Barnes, Domantas Sabonis

Notes: This crew changed into the fourth other beginning lineup utilized by the Kings this season. Their maximum commonplace mixture is 5-1, that includes Kevin Huerter as an alternative of Duarte at taking pictures guard. … Huerter didn’t play in opposition to the Mavericks due to a finger harm. Alex Len (ankle) and Trey Lyles (calf) additionally had been out for Sunday’s victory.

Saturday loss vs. Minnesota

Dyson Daniels, Jordan Hawkins, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valanciunas

Notes: This crew changed into the 8th other beginning lineup utilized by the Pelicans this season. Their maximum commonplace mixture is 2-1, that includes Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum as an alternative of Daniels and Hawkins. … Matt Ryan (calf) is questionable to play Monday. McCollum, Trey Murphy and Larry Nance Jr. are out. Alvarado is formally possible.

KEEP BALLING IN THE BLENDER
New Orleans’ offense has kicked into excessive equipment because the get started of this six-game homestand. Over the 4 video games performed up to now – and in spite of a 12-point loss vs. Dallas – the Pelicans rank within the most sensible 5 of the NBA since Nov. 12 in field-goal proportion (fourth, 51.7), three-point proportion (3rd, 43.7) and assists according to recreation (31.0). With Sacramento close to complete energy, the Pelicans may want that degree of manufacturing to beat the Kings.
DEFEND THE ARC, CONTAIN FOX
Three-point protection and preventing penetration via opposing guards have grow to be important in opposition to just about all of the NBA, however that’s much more the case vs. the Kings. Sacramento is a high-volume perimeter-shooting membership, ranked 3rd in three-point makes an attempt according to recreation (42.3) and fourth in makes (14.9). Fox has produced probably the most excellent video games of his NBA profession within the Smoothie King Center.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
At ahead, Ingram is coming off a 30-point, seven-rebound Saturday recreation vs. Minnesota. On Monday, the Duke product might spend a while squaring off in opposition to North Carolina product Barnes, a fellow veteran of the Western Conference.