The Brooklyn Nets travel to the Big Easy to face the struggling New Orleans Pelicans in a cross-conference clash between two lottery-bound teams. The Nets are aiming to snap a four-game skid, while the Pelicans look to end a six-game home losing streak. This is the second meeting of the season, with Brooklyn dominating the first on December 6, 2025, winning 119-101 at home behind strong shooting and defense. Both squads are plagued by injuries and inconsistency, but the Nets enter as slight favorites in what projects as a low-scoring grind given their offensive woes.
Venue Location
Smoothie King Center
1501 Dave Dixon Drive
New Orleans, Louisiana 70113 The Pelicans’ home since 2002, this arena seats about 16,800 for NBA games and is known for its vibrant atmosphere, though crowds have thinned amid the team’s poor performance. Tickets start around $15-20 for this matchup, reflecting the lack of star power.
Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. local CT) TV: YES (Nets local), Gulf Coast Sports and Pelicans+ (Pelicans local)
Streaming: NBA League Pass (blackout restrictions may apply)
Injury Report
Injuries have decimated both rosters, with key absences likely forcing reliance on young players and reserves. Final statuses could change; check updates near tip-off.
Brooklyn Nets Injuries:
Haywood Highsmith (SF): Out (right knee surgery/injury recovery). A defensive anchor sidelined indefinitely.
Ben Saraf (PG): Out (G League – on assignment/knee). Limited impact but adds depth.
Ziaire Williams (SF): Out (illness). His athleticism is missed on the wing.
Egor Demin (SG): Questionable (left plantar fascia injury). Could provide shooting if cleared.
Cam Thomas (SG): Questionable (hamstring management, per recent trends). Brooklyn’s leading scorer (around 25 PPG) is day-to-day.
The Nets will lean on Michael Porter Jr., Nic Claxton, and possibly Day’Ron Sharpe for rebounding. Without Highsmith and Williams, their perimeter defense suffers.New Orleans Pelicans Injuries:
Dejounte Murray (PG): Out (right Achilles rupture). A massive loss for playmaking and defense.
Jose Alvarado (PG): Out (left oblique strain). Hurts their bench energy.
Herbert Jones (SF): Day-to-day (right ankle sprain). Key defender; his status is crucial.
Hunter Dickinson (C): Out (G League – two-way). Minimal impact.
Saddiq Bey (SF): Available (right hip flexor strain). Recently returned, adds scoring.
The Pelicans are without their top guards, forcing Trey Murphy III and Yves Missi to carry more load. Zion Williamson remains active but has been inefficient amid the chaos (averaging ~20 PPG on poor shooting lately).
Key Player Matchups to Watch
This game could hinge on frontcourt battles, as both teams struggle with guard depth and outside shooting.
Michael Porter Jr. (Nets) vs. Trey Murphy III (Pelicans): Porter Jr. (averaging 18-20 PPG) is Brooklyn’s go-to scorer with range. Murphy III, a sharpshooter (recently dropped 35 in a win), will counter from deep. Expect threes aplenty; Porter torched NOLA for 28 points in their last meeting.
Cam Thomas (Nets) vs. Jordan Hawkins or Antonio Reeves (Pelicans): If Thomas plays, his scoring (30+ in bursts) exploits New Orleans’ weak perimeter D (allowing 38% from three). The Pelicans’ young guards must contain him to stay competitive.
Nic Claxton (Nets) vs. Yves Missi (Pelicans): Claxton anchors Brooklyn’s paint (top-10 defense at 113.8 PPG allowed). Missi, a rookie with upside, grabs boards but struggles vs. veterans. Rebounding edge could decide this.
Bench Battle: Day’Ron Sharpe (Nets) vs. Derik Queen (Pelicans): Sharpe’s double-doubles (e.g., 14-12 recently) bolster Brooklyn’s second unit. Queen provides energy but is raw.
Overall, Nets’ offense (108.7 PPG, 30th) faces a Pelicans D allowing 118+ PPG lately. New Orleans scores just 106.5 PPG (dead last), but home desperation could spark them.
Recent Team Forms
Both teams are in freefall, with defensive breakdowns and turnovers plaguing them. Here’s their last 10:
Brooklyn Nets (3-7 in last 10, averaging 107.7 PPG scored, 113.9 PPG allowed):
Jan 12: L 105-113 @ Mavericks (close but faded late; Porter Jr. 28 points).
Jan 10: L 105-121 @ Clippers (defense collapsed; Thomas limited).
Jan 9: L 107-128 vs. Wizards (offense stalled; poor shooting).
Jan 7: L 103-104 vs. Magic (heartbreaker; turnovers costly).
Jan 4: W 127-115 vs. Nuggets (efficient; 50.6% FG).
Jan 2: L 99-119 @ Wizards (rebounding issues).
Jan 1: L 96-120 vs. Rockets (low-scoring dud).
Dec 30: W 115-110 @ Hornets (clutch win).
Dec 28: L 102-115 vs. Knicks (rivalry loss).
Dec 26: W 124-118 @ Pistons (high-scoring).
Nets are 1-4 in last 5 road games, with losses by double-digits often. They’re 15-22 ATS overall.
New Orleans Pelicans (1-9 in last 10, averaging 106.2 PPG scored, 118.4 PPG allowed):
Jan 13: L 95-112 vs. Nuggets (offense sputtered).
Jan 11: L 102-115 vs. Heat (defensive lapses).
Jan 9: W 128-107 @ Wizards (rare blowout; Murphy III 35 points).
Jan 7: L 100-117 @ Hawks (poor from deep).
Jan 6: L 103-111 vs. Lakers (competitive but outrebounded).
Jan 4: L 106-125 @ Heat (turnovers galore).
Jan 2: L 109-122 vs. Blazers (home skid continues).
Dec 31: L 101-120 @ Grizzlies (overmatched).
Dec 29: L 98-110 vs. Spurs (low energy).
Dec 27: L 105-118 @ Mavericks (scoring drought).
Pelicans are 0-6 at home lately, 22-20 ATS but 23-19 to the over. Their lone win was a surprise road upset.
Series History
All-time, the Nets lead 26-23 in 49 regular-season games. No playoff meetings.
Recent head-to-head (last 10 games):
Dec 6, 2025: Nets 119-101 Pelicans (Brooklyn covers -4; under 220).
Apr 8, 2025: Nets 119-114 Pelicans (Brooklyn covers -3; over 233).
Nov 11, 2024: Nets 107-105 Pelicans (Brooklyn covers +2; under 212).
Mar 19, 2024: Pelicans 104-91 Nets (NOLA covers -5; under 195).
Jan 2, 2024: Pelicans 112-85 Nets (NOLA covers -6.5; under 197.5).
And earlier: Pelicans won 4 of 5 before Nets’ current streak.
Nets have won 3 straight, with games trending under (6-4 in last 10). Average total: ~215 points.
Betting Trends
Spread: Nets 18-19 ATS overall, 8-9 ATS on road; Pelicans 22-20 ATS, 10-14 ATS at home.
Over/Under: Under has hit in 6 of Nets’ last 10 (low-scoring slumps); over in 5 of Pelicans’ last 10 home games. Series trend: Under in 7 of last 10.
Game Odds
Brooklyn Nets – 1.5
New Orleans Pelicans 227.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, January 13, 2026
