New Orleans Pelicans center Derik Queen (22) and New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy (25) defend Washington Wizards forward Anthony Gill (16) during the first half of the basketball game at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Staff Photo by David Grunfeld, The Times-Picayune)
STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD
The metrics say the New Orleans Pelicans have improved.
The record, 11-9 over their last 20 games, says it, too.
But have they really improved? We're about to find out over these next 10 games.
The Pelicans won their 21st game Sunday night, tying their win total from last season. Of those 21 wins, 14 have come against teams that won’t sniff the playoffs.
The good news is the Pelicans have been taking care of business against inferior competition. Their last four victories, all against non-playoff teams, all have been by double digits. The latest one was [Sunday’s 138-118 victory over the Washington Wizards](https://www.nola.com/tncms/asset/editorial/7a6875a9-b043-4a4c-84b5-39c95c5e2744/).
“These guys continue to play with great urgency,” Pelicans interim coach James Borrego said. “They keep pounding the rock.”
The rock gets tougher in the upcoming stretch, starting Wednesday night at home against the Toronto Raptors. Nine of the Pelicans’ next 10 games are against teams that currently are in the playoffs or at least the play-in tournament.
“It’s a great measuring stick to see where we’re at,” Borrego said. “I think since a little before the All-Star break, we’ve played good basketball. We’ll get tested again here coming up, which is great for us. That’s where you want to be. And we’re going to treat it as such.”
The only non-playoff team over the next 10 games is Monday’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. Other than that, they face the Raptors (twice), Houston Rockets (twice), Los Angeles Clippers (twice), Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons. The Cavs, Knicks and Pistons are three of the top four teams in the Eastern Conference.
“It’s a litmus test to see where we are,” Pelicans forward Trey Murphy said. “To see what quality of basketball we are really playing. I feel like a lot of the teams we’ve been playing against haven’t been trying to win. Now we get to see what our product looks like against teams that are trying to win and competing for the playoffs.”
The Pels have played well against some playoff teams, too. They pushed the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns to the limits on the recent six-game road trip, but couldn’t close the deal.
While many non-playoff teams have mailed it in for the rest of the season, the Pels aren’t taking that approach. With no first-round draft pick, there’s no reason to do so. They are trying to win.
“I think it speaks for the character of our group that we are about getting better and we’re about the right things,” Borrego said. “Meaning we compete and do our job every day no matter what. There’s a standard. And we’re still trying to raise that standard collectively.
"Every night, we bring it. Every night, we are in every single game. We’re competing until the last minute, and we expect to win every game that we step on the floor.”
The competition stiffens up Wednesday when former Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram and the Raptors come to town. The Pelicans are as healthy as they have been all season. While most teams with a 21-45 record may not have much to play for, the Pelicans still believe they do. That’s why they will attack these next 10 games as if they are fighting for playoff position.
“This is who we are, no matter our record,” Borrego said. “We’re not looking at that. It’s about the process of building a championship-winning program. That’s the goal right now.
"I see an edge about them. We are far from where we need to be, but we are certainly making strides.”
How big of a stride? The next 10 games will tell us.