Pelicans' Jose Alvarado: Scores five points in debut
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Alvarado (ankle) posted five points (2-5 FG, 1-3 3Pt) and three assists across 15 minutes in Monday's 129-93 win over the Kings.
Alvarado missed the Pelicans' first 13 games of the season while recovering from an ankle sprain, but he received the green light to make his debut Monday, albeit on a minute restriction. With the game turning into a blowout, the Pelicans didn't need to overextend Alvarado, who could gradually see his playing time creep up in the team's subsequent contests. Dyson Daniels and Jordan Hawkins are likely to see their respective minutes take hits moving forward with Alvarado back in the fold, though all three players could still make for low-end 12-to-14-team league options in category leagues until CJ McCollum (lung) and Trey Murphy (knee) are cleared to return to action.
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Pelicans' Jose Alvarado: Set to debut Monday
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Alvarado (ankle) said that he'll play in Monday's game against the Kings, Christian Clark of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
Alvarado had been listed as questionable for Monday's matchup, but he'll be able to make his season debut after missing the Pelicans' first 13 games with a right ankle sprain. He'll likely face some sort of minutes restriction during his first game back in action, but once he's fully ramped up, Alvarado could be a candidate to challenge Dyson Daniels for the starting point guard role while the Pelicans await the return or CJ McCollum, who is recovering from a collapsed right lung.
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Pelicans' Jose Alvarado: Questionable for Monday
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Alvarado (ankle) is questionable for Monday's game against the Kings.
Alvarado has missed the Pelicans' first 13 games of the season but is expected to return to action soon. If he's available for Monday's matchup, it wouldn't be surprising to see him have a limited workload.
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Pelicans' Jose Alvarado: Questionable for Saturday
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Alvarado (ankle) is listed as questionable for Saturday's game versus the Timberwolves.
Alvarado has yet to suit up this season due to an ankle injury. However, his status being upgraded to questionable is a good sign for his availability against Minnesota or in the near future.
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Pelicans' Jose Alvarado: Out Friday
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Alvardo (ankle) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Nuggets, Erin Summers of Bally Sports New Orleans reports.
As expected, Alvardo has been downgraded from doubtful to out and will miss a 12th straight game due to start the campaign. However, coach Willie Green said it's possible the backup guard will make his season debut during the second half of New Orleans' back-to-back set versus Minnesota on Saturday.
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Pelicans' Jose Alvarado: Doubtful Friday
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Alvarado (ankle) is doubtful for Friday's game against the Nuggets.
Although Alvarado will likely remain out for Friday's matchup, it's at least encouraging that he's listed as doubtful on the team's initial injury report rather than being immediately ruled out. The Pelicans also face the Timberwolves in the second half of a back-to-back set Saturday, and it wouldn't be surprising if Alvarado is out for that matchup as well.
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Pelicans' Jose Alvarado: Out another 1-2 weeks
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The Pelicans announced Wednesday that Alvarado (ankle) is expected to return to full team practice in 1-2 weeks.
Alvarado sprained his right ankle during an offseason workout but has progressed well. He's been doing light on-court work recently, and it's encouraging that he has a timetable for full participation in practice. He may be able to return to game action shortly after, but it wouldn't be surprising if he faced some restrictions once he's cleared to return.
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Pelicans' Jose Alvarado: Still out Wednesday
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Alvarado (ankle) won't play in Wednesday's game versus the Timberwolves.
Alvarado suffered his ankle injury during preseason and has yet to make his season debut. While the Pelicans said he would be re-evaluated by now, no update has been provided. With CJ McCollum (chest) also out, Jordan Hawkins, Kira Lewis and Dyson Daniels should continue to receive extended minutes in the backcourt.
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Pelicans' Jose Alvarado: Doesn't practice Monday
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Alvarado (ankle) didn't participate in Monday's practice session, Christian Clark of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
Alvarado sustained a right ankle sprain in late September and was forced to miss the entire preseason. Although he practiced in a limited capacity late last week and has been targeting an Opening Night return, it appears increasingly unlikely that he'll be able to suit up for Wednesday's regular-season opener in Memphis. If he misses time to begin the regular season, Dyson Daniels and Kira Lewis could see increased work.
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Pelicans' Jose Alvarado: Practices in limited capacity
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Alvarado (ankle) participated in non-contact portions of Thursday's practice session, Erin Summers of Bally Sports New Orleans reports.
Alvarado missed the entire preseason due to a right ankle sprain that he sustained in late September, but the hope has been that he'd be ready for Opening Night against the Grizzlies on Oct. 25. While he'll presumably have to ramp up his intensity in practice before he's cleared to suit up, it's encouraging to at least see him practicing in a limited fashion.
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Pelicans' Jose Alvarado: Targeting Opening Night
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Pelicans general manager Trajan Langdon said Monday that the hope is Alvarado (ankle) will be healthy for the team's regular-season opener in Memphis on Oct. 25, Will Guillory of The Athletic reports.
The point guard suffered a right ankle sprain and was given a 2-3 week timetable in late September, so it's positive to hear that he's still trending in the right direction. With CJ McCollum expected to run the point for the starting unit, Alvarado will compete with Dyson Daniels for backup minutes.
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Pelicans' Jose Alvarado: Out for 2-3 weeks
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Alvarado (ankle) is expected to return to basketball activities in approximately 2-3 weeks, Andrew Lopez of ESPN.com reports.
Alvarado suffered a right ankle sprain during an offseason workout that could keep him out for most, if not all, of the preseason. However, the third-year point guard should be healthy for the Pelicans' regular-season opener on Oct. 25 against Memphis.
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Pelicans' Jose Alvarado: Questionable for training camp
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Alvarado suffered an ankle sprain during a workout over the weekend, putting his training camp availability at risk, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.
Alvarado was beginning to ramp up for the start of training camp after he missed the FIBA World Cup due to a lower leg injury he suffered at the end of the 2022-23 season, but he suffered an ankle sprain during a workout. At this point, it is unclear whether Alvarado will be available for training camp or the Pelicans' first preseason game on Oct. 10.
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Pelicans' Jose Alvarado: Sitting out FIBA World Cup
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The Puerto Rican national team announced Thursday that Alvarado (lower leg) won't participate in the upcoming FIBA World Cup, Andrew Lopez of ESPN.com reports.
Alvarado will sit out the FIBA World Cup after the Pelicans wouldn't clear the 25-year-old guard to play in the event after he suffered a stress reaction in his right tibia in late February, which kept him sidelined for New Orleans' final 20 games of the 2022-23 season. According to Puerto Rico's general manager, former NBA guard Carlos Arroyo, Alvarado underwent an MRI earlier in July that revealed he hadn't fully healed from the injury. Alvarado's absence from the FIBA event is still believed to be a matter of extra caution on the part of the Pelicans, who anticipate that he'll be fully cleared ahead of training camp.
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Pelicans' Jose Alvarado: Won't suit up for Play-In
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Alvarado (leg) has been cleared to resume on-court activities, but he won't suit up for Wednesday's Play-In Tournament matchup against the Thunder and isn't expected to resume game action for at least one more week, Andrew Lopez of ESPN.com reports.
Alvarado hasn't played since Feb. 27 due to a stress reaction in his right tibia, but it appears he's making solid progress and could be available if the Pelicans secure a spot in the playoffs. However, given his lengthy absence, it may be a stretch to expect Alvarado to play his usual role right away if he can return at some point this season.
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Pelicans' Jose Alvarado: Return timetable pushed back
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Recent imaging of Alvarado's right tibia has shown incremental improvement, and he will be re-examined in 2-3 weeks.
Alvarado missed the last 10 games due to a stress fracture in his right tibia. His new timetable likely rules out a regular-season return, but he could retake the floor if the Pelicans make the Play-In Tournament. Kira Lewis and Dyson Daniels should continue to see extended minutes in Alvarado's absence.
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Pelicans' Jose Alvarado: Sidelined at least three weeks
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Alvarado will be re-evaluated in three weeks after being diagnosed with a stress reaction in his right tibia.
Alvarado is far from guaranteed to retake the floor after his re-evaluation, but the team will at least measure where he's at when the date approaches. Without Alvarado available off the bench, the Pelicans will have to turn elsewhere for backup point guard duties. Among the options to see some added minutes are Kira Lewis, Dyson Daniels and Garrett Temple, while Josh Richardson could also slide over to point guard and open minutes for others.
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Pelicans' Jose Alvarado: Added to starting five
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Alvarado is starting Monday's game against the Thunder, Christian Clark of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
Alvarado will step into the starting lineup at point guard in place of CJ McCollum (ankle). Alvarado's last start dates back to Jan. 29 against the Bucks, when he finished with 18 points, three rebounds, six assists and two steals in 29 minutes.
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Pelicans' Jose Alvarado: Returning to bench
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Alvarado is not in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game at Denver, Will Guillory of The Athletic reports.
The 24-year-old made a spot start Sunday with CJ McCollum (thumb) and Brandon Ingram (toe) inactive and posted 18 points (4-12 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 7-8 FT), six assists and three rebounds and two steals in 29 minutes, but he'll shift back to the bench Tuesday with McCollum and Ingram back in the lineup. Alvarado is averaging 9.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.0 steals in 20.9 minutes when coming off the bench this season.
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Pelicans' Jose Alvarado: Posts 18 points in starting role
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Alvarado closed Sunday's 135-110 loss to the Bucks with 18 points (4-12 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 7-8 FT), six assists and three rebounds and two steals over 29 minutes.
With CJ McCollum (thumb) and Brandon Ingram (toe) sidelined, Alvarado stepped into the starting five after appearing off the bench in each of his previous 10 contests. Though he shot poorly from the field, Alvarado's strong showings from three-point range and the free-throw line enabled him to finish with his best scoring total since Dec. 9. The 24-year-old has shown the ability to put up solid numbers across the board when given extended run, but if McCollum is back in action for Tuesday's game in Denver, Alvarado could see his playing time drop back into the 20-to-25-minute range.
