The good news for the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday is they were playing for the first time with Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy and CJ McCollum all in

The New Orleans Pelicans and Philadelphia 76ers have had promising seasons derailed by multiple injuries to stars. On Friday night, CJ McCollum boosted the Pelicans and his trade value. McCollum scored 38 points and shot 13-of-24 as the shorthanded Pelicans beat the Sixers 123-115.

CJ McCollum scored 38 points as the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans opened a three-game road trip with a 123-115 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.

The Pelicans took an 87-78 lead into the fourth quarter when Alvarado drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer. They stretched the lead to 94-83 on an Alvarado assist to Theis, who finished the play with a slam. Hawkins’ four-point play with 6:49 left boosted the Pelicans' lead to 105-92.

Tyrese Maxey had 30 points, 12 assists, and six rebounds for Philadelphia. Paul George had 25 points and 11 rebounds with five assists, Kelly Oubre Jr. added 21 points and seven rebounds, and Ricky Council IV added 13. Guerschon Yabusele added six and seven rebounds.

Pelicans star CJ McCollum says that he isn't concerned about being involved in trade rumors, detailing how he loves the city of New Orleans.

After over a decade in the NBA, CJ McCollum has been there before. He helped the New Orleans Pelicans snap an 11-game losing streak Friday when he dropped 50 points to help secure a win over the Washington Wizards.

It might only be a matter of time before the Pelicans decide to sell off key pieces, such as CJ McCollum, via trade.

To this point, the NBA has already seen some trades, yet that will only ramp up over the next month. The trade deadline is nearly a month away. For the New Orleans Pelicans, it's time to get active. It's early January and they only have six victories to their 19 losses despite holding quite hefty expectations heading into the season.

The Pelicans (7-29) won consecutive games for the first time since beating the Chicago Bulls and the Trail Blazers to start the season. This was just the Pelicans’ second road win and first since that victory over the Blazers in the second game of the year. It ended the Pelicans’ 15-game road losing skid.

The Utah Jazz have hit the cellar of the Western Conference. Zion Williamson highlighted a 24-point, 14-rebound performance with an array of thunderous dunks during a dominant fourth-quarter stint, and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Utah Jazz 136-123 on Friday night to open a two-game set.