Pelicans' CJ McCollum: Scores 25 points in loss to Lakers
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McCollum recorded 25 points (9-19 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 3-4 FT), four rebounds and seven assists across 34 minutes during Sunday's 124-108 loss to the Lakers.
McCollum's touches on offense might decrease once Brandon Ingram is back at full speed, but that wasn't the case Sunday, and the veteran guard responded by extending his streak of games with 25 or more points to seven appearances. Plus, McCollum has scored at least 20 points in all but one of his outings dating back to March 22, so there's no question he figures to have a prominent role when the Pelicans take on the Lakers in the Play-In Tournament on Tuesday.
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Pelicans' CJ McCollum: Converts nine from downtown
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McCollum produced 31 points (11-18 FG, 9-12 3Pt), four rebounds, seven assists and two steals in 40 minutes during Thursday's 135-123 victory over Sacramento.
McCollum rained down three-pointers with abandon in the win, improving the team's chances of nailing down the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. Although McCollum is an essential part of the offense, his seasonal scoring average is on pace to fall short of 20 points, which last happened nine years ago in his sophomore campaign. The Pelicans hope to have Brandon Ingram (knee) back for the playoffs, who will give McCollum another assist target.
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Pelicans' CJ McCollum: Drops 29 on former team
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McCollum had 29 points (10-19 FG, 5-10 3Pt, 4-4 FT), five rebounds, three assists and two steals over 34 minutes during Tuesday's 110-100 victory over Portland.
Facing the franchise he spent the first eight-plus seasons of his career with, McCollum continued a scoring surge that has seen him score at least 29 points in four straight games and more than 20 in nine of the last 10. Over that stretch, the 32-year-old guard has averaged 26.7 points, 5.6 assists, 5.2 boards, 4.5 threes and 0.9 steals as New Orleans tries to lock up the last guaranteed playoff spot in the Western Conference and avoid the Play-In Tournament.
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Pelicans' CJ McCollum: Extends impressive scoring run
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McCollum chipped in 31 points (12-22 FG, 7-12 3Pt), four rebounds and five assists over 42 minutes during Sunday's 113-105 victory over Phoenix.
McCollum reached the 31-point mark for a third consecutive game, and the veteran guard looks extremely comfortable in a more prominent offensive role with Brandon Ingram (knee) still sidelined. McCollum will aim to keep the momentum going as the Pelicans fight for their seeding in the Western Conference, continuing with a trip to Portland on Tuesday.
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Pelicans' CJ McCollum: Scores 31 points in loss Friday
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McCollum contributed 31 points (13-29 FG, 4-12 3Pt, 1-1 FT), six rebounds, four assists and one block in 39 minutes during Friday's 111-109 loss to San Antonio.
McCollum recorded a second consecutive outing with 30 or more points, though he has reached that feat just seven times all season long, so he's not the dominant scoring threat he was during his Portland days. McCollum is ending the regular season on a strong note, and he seems more than ready to handle a more significant role on offense during an eventual postseason run in case Brandon Ingram (knee) doesn't return in time for the playoffs.
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Pelicans' CJ McCollum: Leads from three in balanced game
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McCollum tallied 25 points (9-24 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 4-4 FT), seven rebounds, seven assists and one steal over 40 minutes in Thursday's 107-100 win over Milwaukee.
McCollum led all New Orleans players in threes made and assists while ending as one of two Pelicans with 25 or more points to boost the team in a well-rounded performance. McCollum has tallied 25 or more points in 11 games this season, posting at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists in seven outings.
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Pelicans' CJ McCollum: Leads from deep to boost offense
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McCollum recorded 23 points (9-18 FG, 5-9 3Pt), two rebounds, seven assists and one steal in 37 minutes during Sunday's 114-101 victory over the Pistons.
McCollum led all players in Sunday's contest in threes made while handing out a game-best assist total and ending as one of two Pelicans players with 20 or more points in a winning effort. McCollum has connected on five or more threes in 13 games this season, including in three of his last five outings. McCollum has provided a nice lift to New Orleans' offense as of late, posting at least 20 points and seven assists in three of his last five appearances.
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Pelicans' CJ McCollum: Leads team with 30 points
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McCollum chipped in 30 points (12-20 FG, 6-12 3Pt), two rebounds, eight assists and two steals over 37 minutes during Saturday's 126-107 win over the Trail Blazers.
McCollum led the way for the Pelicans, scoring at least 30 points for the first time in over six weeks. New Orleans has now won six of their past seven games, placing them 1.5 games behind the Clippers in the race for the fourth seed. A top-50 player this season, McCollum should be able to maintain solid value for the remainder of the campaign.
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Pelicans' CJ McCollum: Goes for 20 points in win
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McCollum accumulated 20 points (7-14 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 2-3 FT), four rebounds and three assists over 31 minutes during Sunday's 116-103 win over the Hawks.
McCollum reached the 20-point mark for the second time over his last five appearances, and he took a much-needed step forward in a game where Brandon Ingram struggled from the field. McCollum is settled as New Orleans' third-best scoring alternative behind Ingram and Zion Williamson, but the point guard has still posted 20 or more points in four of his last eight games, so he can be called upon when needed while also maintaining a must-start status across all formats.
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Pelicans' CJ McCollum: Pops for 23 in return
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McCollum supplied 23 points (9-21 FG, 5-8 3Pt), six rebounds and three assists in 34 minutes during Wednesday's 123-114 loss to Indiana.
After missing the prior two games due to a sprained ankle he suffered Feb. 23 against the Heat, McCollum returned to the lineup and topped 20 points for the third straight game in which he's played more than 30 minutes. The veteran guard had been providing steady production before getting hurt, draining multiple three-pointers in seven of eight games to begin February while averaging 19.8 points, 4.8 boards, 4.4 assists, 3.5 threes and 0.9 steals, and Wednesday's effort is a strong sign he's back in form.
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Pelicans' CJ McCollum: Gets green light
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McCollum (ankle) will play Wednesday against the Pacers, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
McCollum, Zion Williamson (foot), Brandon Ingram (ankle) and Trey Murphy (calf) are all available after being considered game-time decisions. McCollum missed the previous two games, so he may see some limitations Wednesday night, though he should still be relied upon when on the court.
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Pelicans' CJ McCollum: Questionable for Wednesday
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McCollum (ankle) is questionable for Wednesday's game against Indiana.
McCollum has missed the last two games due to a left ankle sprain, and it's unclear whether he'll be available in the second half of a back-to-back set Wednesday. If he's sidelined again, Trey Murphy, Matt Ryan and Jordan Hawkins could see an uptick in playing time.
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Pelicans' CJ McCollum: Officially out Tuesday
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McCollum (ankle) will not play Tuesday versus New York, Will Guillory of The Athletic reports.
McCollum will miss his second consecutive game due to a left ankle sprain. Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson (foot) will likely split the majority of playmaking duties, while Trey Murphy, Matt Ryan and Jordan Hawkins should see upticks in minutes in the backcourt.
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Pelicans' CJ McCollum: Questionable for Tuesday
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McCollum (ankle) is questionable for Tuesday's game against the Knicks.
McCollum sprained his ankle during Friday's loss to Miami and missed Saturday's loss to the Bulls, but he was a full participant in Monday's practice session. It's not yet clear whether he'll be able to suit up Tuesday, but he seems to be trending in the right direction.
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Pelicans' CJ McCollum: Logs full practice Monday
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McCollum (ankle) logged a full practice Monday but is still day-to-day, Christian Clark of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
McCollum left Friday's loss to Miami after spraining his ankle and was sidelined for Saturday's loss to Chicago. His return to practice is a good sign of his availability moving forward, but McCollum will likely still appear on the Pelicans' initial injury report for Tuesday's matchup in New York, which should drop Monday afternoon.
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Pelicans' CJ McCollum: Won't play Sunday
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McCollum (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bulls.
The absence of McCollum is not surprising, as the veteran guard exited Friday's game against Miami with a left ankle injury, and it wouldn't be shocking if he has to miss a few more games. McCollum's next chance to play will come against the Knicks on Tuesday.
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Pelicans' CJ McCollum: Exits early with ankle injury
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McCollum won't return to Friday's game against Miami due to a left ankle injury. He finished with two points (1-7 FG, 0-3 3Pt), two rebounds, one assist and one block in 15 minutes.
McCollum tweaked his ankle in the first half of the contest and initially attempted to play through the injury. He then headed to the locker room with the Pelicans listing him as questionable to return, only for McCollum to be ruled out for the rest of the night a few minutes later. The severity of the injury is unknown, and McCollum could be sent in for further tests before the Pelicans determine his status for Sunday's game against Chicago. Jose Alvarado started the second half in McCollum's place.
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Pelicans' CJ McCollum: Goes for 28 points Thursday
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McCollum contributed 28 points (11-22 FG, 4-10 3Pt, 2-3 FT), six rebounds and six assists across 31 minutes during Thursday's 127-105 victory over Houston.
McCollum scored 26 points in the Pelicans' final game before the All-Star break, and he bested that performance with this outing -- it was just the seventh time he cleared the 25-point hurdle. McCollum has been forced to adjust to a different role compared to the one he had with the Trail Blazers, but he remains a reliable fantasy option. Over his last 10 appearances, McCollum is averaging 19.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game while shooting 45.9 percent from the field.
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Pelicans' CJ McCollum: Delivers 26 points in win
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McCollum contributed 26 points (9-17 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 5-5 FT), three rebounds, six assists and one steal in 33 minutes during Wednesday's 133-126 win over Washington.
The veteran guard got back on track after failing to reach 20 points in any of the prior three games. McCollum's usage remains down in 2023-24 as the Pelicans spread the ball around a little more, and over the last 15 contests he's averaging 18.3 points, 4.4 boards, 3.8 assists, 3.2 threes and 0.8 steals.
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Pelicans' CJ McCollum: Regresses in low-scoring affair
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McCollum racked up eight points (2-14 FG, 1-9 3Pt, 3-4 FT), three rebounds, seven assists, one block and one steal over 32 minutes during Saturday's 93-84 win over the Trail Blazers.
McCollum's shot was ice-cold in the low-scoring victory, as he connected on just two of his 14 shot attempts. Saturday's total represented McCollum's second-lowest scoring total of the season. The result was also the third time over 39 games that he's failed to record a double-digit total.
