The New Orleans Pelicans could be without their two starting guards for Wednesday night’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers.
On Tuesday night’s injury report, the Pelicans listed Lonzo Ball as out with bilateral knee tendinopathy and Eric Bledsoe as questionable with right eye irritation. A source said the team is treating Ball’s injury as day-to-day.
Ball and Bledsoe have started every game this season and have shared point guard and shooting guard duties.
According to data collected by Second Spectrum, Ball has brought the ball up the floor 290 times this year, while Bledsoe has done so 188 times. But Ball told reporters on Sunday that his role in the half-court offense is more like a shooting guard and he needs to be ready to shoot open 3-pointers when they become available instead of looking to pass first.
While Brandon Ingram has also picked up some of the playmaking duties in the half court, Ball’s assist numbers have dropped from last season (7.0 to 4.4 assists per game). His scoring, though, is up slightly (11.8 to 12.4 points per game).
Ball has struggled with his shooting to start the season as well, hitting at a 39.4% rate overall, and 30.8% from 3-point range. Last season, Ball shot a career-best 37.5% from deep.
In his first nine games with New Orleans after an offseason trade, Bledsoe is averaging 11.8 points, 4.3 assists and 3.2 rebounds — his lowest outputs since the 2012-13 season. That was his third in the league, and the year before he emerged as a starter with the Phoenix Suns.
New Orleans also listed guard JJ Redick on the injury report with right hamstring tightness. He is probable for the game.
