Pelicans vs Raptors live scoreboard, updates: Follow live from 2020 season-opener in Tampa Bay
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THE GAME
WHO: New Orleans Pelicans (0-0) at Toronto Raptors (0-0)
WHERE: Amalie Arena, Tampa Bay, Florida
WHEN: 6:30 p.m.
TV: Fox Sports New Orleans
STREAMING: Fox Sports Go
RADIO: New Orleans – ESPN New Orleans 100.3 FM/WBOK 1230 AM; Alexandria – KDBS 1410 AM; Baton Rouge – WRQQ 103.3 FM; Lafayette – KROF 960 AM; North Shore – WYLK 94.7 FM; New Iberia – KANE 1240 AM
Just a couple of months removed from the Bubble, the 2020-2021 NBA season is already underway.
The New Orleans Pelicans officially kick off their season Wednesday night, taking on the Toronto Raptors in their new temporary home of Tampa Bay, Florida.
Before Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and the rest of the Pelicans’ crew get ready to “dance” again, take a look at some key storylines, season information and more:
The first half of the Pelicans’ schedule.
Take a look at the Pelicans’ schedule
This season, the NBA is releasing its schedule in halves, with 37 games making up the first half of the season.
Of those 37 games, 19 of them will be on national TV.
Wondering which games you shouldn’t miss? We’ve highlighted four games for you to circle on your calendar.
You can view the full schedule below.
The New Orleans Pelicans play the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half of a preseason game at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, La. Friday, Dec. 18, 2020. Due to coronavirus restrictions a maximum of 750 fans were allowed to attend. (Photo by Max Becherer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
STAFF PHOTO BY MAX BECHERER Will fans be allowed in the Smoothie King Center?
In short, yes — fans will be allowed to attend games at the Smoothie King Center this season. The exact number of fans permitted into the building, though, depends on how New Orleans’ coronavirus data.
For the Pelican’s home opener against the San Antonio Spurs on Dec. 27, 800 fans will be allowed to attend — about 4% of the Smoothie King Center’s full capacity.
Take a look at how the team, working with city officials and health experts, are determining fan attendance this season.
Only a triple-digit number of New Orleans Pelicans fans will be allowed to attend the team’s home opener later this month.
Miami Heat forward Moe Harkless attempts to steal the ball from New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) ORG XMIT: AAA104
Wilfredo Lee Here’s how we see the season playing out
Big things are expected for the Pelicans this season.
How will the season play out? From who leads the team in scoring to what will have to be done to consider the season a success, here are five predictions from our staff writers.
The New Orleans Pelicans are back, and this season the front office has constructed a team it hopes can have an edge.
New Orleans Pelicans guard forward Zion Williamson (1), forward Brandon Ingram (14), and guard Josh Hart (3) talk strategy in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in New Orleans, Tuesday, March 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Matthew Hinton Kushner: Pelicans have to show they’re improving this season
Speaking of success, defining it in the NBA can be a hard task.
While winning a championship is the obvious answer to what makes a team successful, there are a number of layers that should be considered.
Columnist Scott Kushner dives into what benchmarks the Pelicans will need to reach by the end of the season.
Defining success in the NBA is complicated.
Lonzo Ball said he felt partially responsible for the Pelicans’ struggles inside the bubble. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
Ashley Landis Road to playoffs is a bit more complicated
The NBA’s play-in tournament for the final playoff seeds in the Bubble last season were a hit for the league, and it looks like that format is sticking around this season, in a slightly tweaked variation.
Take a look at what the Pelicans will have to do to earn a playoff spot.
The end of the NBA regular season can drag like a tree branch that gets stuck in your wheel well.
Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday (21) talks with New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) and guard Lonzo Ball (2) before tipoff in the first half of a pre-season game at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, La. Friday, Dec. 18, 2020. (Photo by Max Becherer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
STAFF PHOTO BY MAX BECHERER How was the Pelicans’ roster formed?
There are plenty of new faces on the Pelicans this season, including head coach Stan Van Gundy.
But how exactly did this new-look Pelicans teams come to be? The blockbuster Jrue Holiday trade with the Milwaukee Bucks is just one piece of the puzzle.
Get a complete look at the timeline of events, along with your Pelicans roster, here.
What figures to be one of the strangest seasons in NBA history is here. The league is pushing forward despite the pandemic. Each team will res…
Think you know your New Orleans Pelicans players? If not, this list is for you.
Stan Van Gundy was introduced as the the Pelicans head coach Tuesday. Here he is pictured in 2018. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
Paul Sancya Stan Van Gundy will keep his rotation tight
Last season, the Pelicans played 12 players on opening night against the Toronto Raptors.
This year, however, don’t expect new coach Stan Van Gundy to do the same.
Take a look at how he plans to keep a tight rotation through the season.
For the second straight year, the New Orleans Pelicans are opening the regular season against the Toronto Raptors on the road.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram, right, drives around San Antonio Spurs guard Lonnie Walker IV, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) ORG XMIT: FLJR106
Ashley Landis Brandon Ingram ready to build on breakout season
Brandon Ingram bet on himself last season, and won.
After forgoing his rookie extension, Ingram went on to have a career year in his first season in New Orleans — resulting in his new max contract signed during the brief offseason.
Now, comes the hard part — following up on his breakout year and building lasting success in New Orleans.
Ingram is more than ready for that challenge.
As the New Orleans Pelicans’ disastrous bubble performance neared an end in August, Brandon Ingram remained resolute.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) rebounds the ball over Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday (21) in the first half of a pre-season game at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, La. Friday, Dec. 18, 2020. (Photo by Max Becherer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
STAFF PHOTO BY MAX BECHERER What to expect from a healthy Zion in Year 2
New Orleans will finally get a fully healthy Zion Williamson to start the season.
No surgeries forcing him to miss time.
No minutes restrictions forcing him to play five minutes at a time.
We’ve already seen a preview of what kind of player an unleashed Zion can be during the preseason.
Now, take a look at what’s expected of a “full throttle” version of the young phenom.
Josh Hart (left) and Lonzo Ball
Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart will play vital roles
Two players to keep an eye on this season — guard Lonzo Ball and forward Josh Hart.
The two young players that came to New Orleans via the Anthony Davis trade are both entering crucial contract years after not being able to work out extensions with the Pelicans’ front office.
The club, however, believe both players will be huge parts of their rotation this season. Will good play translate to more time in the Crescent City?
Two dribbles were all Lonzo Ball needed to zoom from behind halfcourt to the rim.
As a senior in college, Josh Hart led Villanova in rebounding even though he was the Wildcats’ seventh-tallest player.
Steven Adams signed a two-year extension with the Pelicans, according to ESPN. (Associated Press)
How will Steven Adams fit in with Pelicans?
The Pelicans made it clear how important new center Steven Adams is to the team’s future by immediately locking him in for a two-year extension after acquiring him via trade this offseason.
New Orleans now has a lethal one-two punch in Adams and Zion Williamson anchoring its front court, perfect for the “bully ball” style of play Stan Van Gundy wants to establish.
There is a switch Steven Adams flips when he steps off the basketball court. Executive vice president David Griffin alluded it to it Monday.
Alabama guard Kira Lewis Jr. (2) plays against Vanderbilt in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Mark Humphrey Rookie showcase: Kira Lewis Jr.
The Pelicans showed up to the 2020 NBA Draft with multiple picks in hand, but left with only one rookie when trades were all said and done — point guard Kira Lewis Jr.
See why the Pelicans selected the lightning-quick Alabama standout below, plus catch up on five quick facts about him here.
With the 13th pick in Wednesday’s draft, the New Orleans Pelicans went with speed. In the lottery, they took Kira Lewis Jr., a lightning-quick…