The Pelicans finished the 2021-22 season on a high.
In winning 36 games, New Orleans earned the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference and a spot in the Play-In Tournament. The Pelicans defeated the Spurs and Clippers to secure the final seed, and they pushed a Suns team that ran away with the best record in the league to six games.
The Pelicans enter the 2022-23 season with the same roster, but with one key addition: Zion Williamson, who earned the first All-Star selection of his career in 2020-21 but missed the entire 2021-22 season with an injury.
According to FanDuel, the Pelicans are +5000 to win the 2022-23 championship, giving them the 14th-best odds in the league. The Bulls, Raptors, Timberwolves and Mavericks are among the teams ahead of them.
Below, you can find the Pelicans' entire schedule for the 2022-23 season along with their national TV games and a prediction on their final record.
Pelicans 2022-23 schedule
The Pelicans will open their season with a matchup against the Nets in Brooklyn on Oct. 19. It could mark the return of Williamson and Ben Simmons' debut with the Nets.
New Orleans will play their home opener against the new-look Jazz on Oct. 23.
Pelicans announce 2022-23 regular season schedule 🗓#Pelicans | @SeatGeek https://t.co/Iy1JtCSdPB
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) August 17, 2022
Pelicans national TV games 2022-23
The Pelicans will play six games on TNT and five games on ESPN in the 2022-23 season. They will also play seven games on NBA TV.
New Orleans' notable national television games include:
- Oct. 25: Pelicans vs. Mavericks (TNT)
- Nov. 15: Pelicans vs. Grizzlies (TNT)
- Feb. 15: Pelicans at Lakers (ESPN)
- March 28: Pelicans at Warriors (TNT)
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Pelicans 2022-23 record prediction
According to FanDuel, the Pelicans' win total over/under for the 2022-23 season is set at 43.5.
The Pelicans won 36 games last season despite getting off to a miserable start and Williamson not playing in a single game. The combination of Williamson, Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum and a robust supporting cast should make them competitive, even in a stacked Western Conference.
If it can stay healthy, New Orleans could be in the mix for a top-six seed. I'm taking the slight over.
Prediction: 45-37
