Jordan Hawkins doesn’t know when the back pain that sidelined him earlier this season will go away.
Truth be told, he doesn’t know if they ever will.
“Hopefully it goes away like tomorrow,” Hawkins said early last week.
But the Pelicans’ second-year guard is playing through it, as well as playing through the shooting struggles that have come with the pain.
When the Pelicans host the Houston Rockets on Thursday night, Hawkins would like nothing more than to see some carryover from his play on the team’s recent four-game road trip.
Hawkins averaged 14.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists on the road trip that saw the Pelicans go 2-2. Those numbers are all higher than what he’s averaging for the season (10.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists).
“He’s playing more consistent where he has more consistent minutes,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “He understands what his role is when he steps on the floor. This is a part of his growth.”
Hawkins scored 24 points in a loss to the Suns, one shy of the season-high 25 points he scored against the Denver Nuggets in December. He also had four assists in that game, tying his season-high in that category. The four 3-pointers he knocked down Tuesday against the Lakers are the most he’s made in a game since January. He made 11 of 30 3-pointers on the road trip.
“He just has a shooter’s mindset,” Pelicans forward Zion Williamson said. “The longer he is in the league, the more he’s starting to develop that shot, and I think that really helps his game a lot.”
Hawkins also is reaping the benefits of the Pelicans’ bigger lineup now that newly acquired 7-footer Kelly Olynyk is on the roster.
“It gives us a different perspective on offense,” Hawkins said. “A lot more ball movement and screening and gets everybody engaged.”
The official diagnosis of Hawkins’ back issues that caused him to miss time in November and December was a lumbar spine annular fissure. He also experienced back issues during his time at UConn.
“Just go out there and hoop and not overthink too much and not put too much pressure on myself,” Hawkins said. “I just go out there and play my game. I’m out there and just hooping.”
Hawkins has had his struggles against the Rockets, who the Pelicans play Thursday in the Smoothie King Center and then again Saturday in Houston’s Toyota Center. In his five career games against Houston, he’s made just 9 of 37 shots, including 6 of 26 on 3-pointers. He’s averaging six points per game against them.
Green hopes to see the Hawkins he saw on the road trip.
“We want to see him step on the floor and continue to build momentum, build good habits,” Green said. “And for the most part, we like what we see.”