CJ McCollum Fights Back “Collapsed Lung” Scare as He Plans to End 26-Day Absence Vs 76ers Tonight

The New Orleans Pelicans are set to face the Philadelphia 76ers tonight. While Philly and Joel Embiid have been dominating the last few games with back-to-back wins, the Pelicans are far behind losing two in a row. New Orleans is currently the 9th seed in the west with 9 wins and 9 losses. They stand at a very crucial juncture in their regular season journey and it will predict their playoff chances.

Despite their losing streak, there might still be hope as CJ McCollum is back and will play against the Sixers tonight.

CJ McCollum Fights Back

According to a tweet by Adrian Wojnarowski, “New Orleans guard CJ McCollum is expected to make his return to the lineup vs. Philadelphia tonight, sources tell ESPN. He’s been out since Nov. 4 with a collapsed lung. The Pelicans are 5-7 without him.”

This gives the Pelicans a real shot to contend with the 76ers and the deadly combo of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Displaying a promising sign for both fans and teammates, CJ McCollum has resumed light practice following a rare collapsed lung injury sustained during a game against the Atlanta Hawks on November 4th. McCollum’s absence has had a notable effect on the Pelicans, reflected in their record of 5 victories and 7 defeats in the 12 games that followed.

However, the question that remains is how far will New Orleans go.

How far will the Pelicans go?

Following the selection of Zion Williamson in the 2019 NBA Draft, there were high expectations for the New Orleans Pelicans to contend for a championship, especially with the presence of the exceptionally talented Brandon Ingram on their roster. Unfortunately, untimely injuries to both Zion and Ingram hindered the Pelicans’ rapid rise to the top. Instead, they consistently finished the seasons in a mid-table position, leaving the franchise in a state of uncertainty.

Read More: Pelicans Injury Update: Will Zion Williamson Play Back to Back Games Tonight vs the Jazz?

The combination of Zion’s recurrent injuries and organizational indecision has impeded the team’s overall progress. The current situation for the Pelicans becomes more perplexing when considering the considerable talent within their roster. This season is pivotal for the Pelicans to meet expectations; otherwise, there’s a risk of disappointing their fan base. While possessing the potential to become a dominant team in the coming years, the key to their success lies in the health and motivation of their star players.

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