The New Orleans Pelicans have been a snakebitten franchise this season. Injuries have ravaged the roster all season, and a team that was expected to be in playoff contention, is instead an NBA-worst 5-29. One of their injured pieces has been guard Jose Alvarado.
After a lengthy time on the sidelines, it seems as if Alvarado may finally be returning to action on Friday when the Pelicans take on the Washington Wizards.
Pelicans Defensive Menace Finally Expected To Return On Friday
Jose Alvarado Says He Will Return Friday After Missing 23 Games
It has been nearly two months since the 26-year-old Alvarado last appeared in a game for New Orleans. He last played on November 11 and has missed each of the last 23 contests for the team. A right hamstring strain has kept the 6-foot guard from being able to play.
It is looking like his absence won’t extend to a 24th straight outing. While Alvarado is listed as probable, Will Guillory of The Athletic reported that Alvarado said on Thursday,
“I’ll be playing tomorrow for sure. No doubt. … I finally get to be Jose again. It’s going to be a lot of crazy man out there.”
While he will likely be on a minutes restriction for Friday’s game due to being out for so long, it will still be great for the Pelicans to have Alvarado back on the court. He has appeared in just 11 games this season. Expected to be a key reserve again this season, Alvarado started seven of those contests due to other injuries to backcourt players Dejounte Murray and CJ McCollum.
Playing 25.6 minutes per outing in his 11 games, Alvarado has averages of 10.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals. He has made 24-60 (40.0%) from three-point range.
Undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft, Alvarado is now in his fourth season, all with the Pelicans. Alvarado signed a two-year, $9 million extension in the offseason that features a player option in 2026-27. Last season, Alvarado finished sixth in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
Pelicans Have Faced Numerous Injuries All Season
While Alvarado returning is great news for the Pelicans, New Orleans likely dug themselves into too deep of a hole for any type of playoff run. They are already 12.5 games behind the Golden State Warriors, the current 10th seed in the Western Conference.
It has been injuries galore for the Pelicans this season. Their top two players, Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, are both out. The first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Williamson has been out since November 6 with a left hamstring strain. The 2019-20 Most Improved Player, Ingram hasn’t played since December 7 due to a left ankle sprain.
Williamson, Ingram, and Alvarado certainly aren’t the only rotation pieces to miss ample time for New Orleans. In the Pelicans first 34 games, CJ McCollum has missed 13, Dejounte Murray 17, Herbert Jones 18, Trey Murphy III 13, and Jordan Hawkins 16. Every one of these players was expected to be a part of their rotation, even at full-strength.
Unfortunately, these ailments have helped to cause derail the Pelicans season before the halfway point has even been reached.
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