Per a pregame tweet from Pelicans radio play-by-play broadcaster Sean Kelley, the starting lineup tonight will include two new faces: small forward Luke Babbitt and center Alexis Ajinca. With injuries sidelining New Orleans’ two other centers, Omer Asik and Kendrick Perkins, Ajinca will move into the first unit. The reconfigured lineup will have a domino effect in that Dante Cunningham will be part of the five-man reserve group; Kelley indicated that Cunningham will be needed as a frontcourt substitute.
As a result of the absence of Asik, New Orleans (0-3) is down to 10 players vs.