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The New Orleans Pelicans will start Jeremiah Fears, Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy, Zion Williamson and Karlo Matković against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. Murphy returns after missing Wednesday’s win over Utah, with Herb Jones moving to the bench in the lineup’s only change.
The New Orleans Pelicans will start Jeremiah Fears, Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy, Zion Williamson and Karlo Matković against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, according to NBC Sports’ player-news report. Murphy returns after missing Wednesday’s win over Utah, while Herb Jones moves to the bench in the only change to New Orleans’ starting five.
Murphy’s return follows a one-game absence. He had been listed as probable on Thursday, and the report said he was set to play against Minnesota. His absence on Wednesday had opened a starting spot for Jones; with Murphy back, Jones is no longer in the first five.
The announced lineup pairs Murray and Fears in the backcourt with Murphy, Williamson and Matković. The source describes this as the Pelicans’ only starting-lineup change from their previous game. It does not provide a minutes projection or confirm how the team will divide playing time among its reserves.
NBC Sports’ report says Murphy’s return could reduce playing time for Jones and Saddiq Bey. That is an expectation rather than a confirmed rotation decision: the starting lineup is known, but the report does not give the players’ expected minutes or specify which reserve will see the largest change.
Murphy’s Return Reshapes Wing Roles
The update clarifies who will open the game for New Orleans and changes the immediate outlook for players competing for minutes on the wing. Murphy is back in the starting group, while Jones is set to come off the bench; NBC Sports also identifies Bey as a player who could see reduced playing time.
For readers following the Pelicans, the distinction between a starting assignment and total playing time matters. Jones and Bey may still have roles in the rotation, but the report does not confirm how much either will play. Murphy’s availability also gives New Orleans its named starting five for a game against Minnesota, without establishing how the group will perform or how long it will remain intact.
For fantasy basketball players, the change is a reason to reassess expectations around the affected rotation, not proof of a particular statistical result. The report supplies no projections or matchup analysis. Any conclusions about production or minutes beyond the announced starters remain forecasts.
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How the Lineup Changed
New Orleans’ previous game was a Wednesday win over the Utah Jazz. Murphy missed that game, and Jones took a place in the starting lineup. The Friday announcement returns Murphy to the first five and sends Jones to the bench.
The report also reviews uncertainty around Murray’s recent availability. It says he had missed the Pelicans’ previous three games for personal reasons and notes that Fears played well while Murray was away. Murray is named as a starter for Friday, but the report does not offer further detail about his absence or discuss its circumstances.
Murphy’s status had been tracked ahead of the game: NBC Sports says he received a probable designation on Thursday. The source also mentions knee tendinitis in its discussion of earlier lineup questions. It does not say that Murphy’s Friday return represents a full recovery or provide a longer-term health update.
Minutes and Health Details Pending
The starting five is confirmed in the source report, but several parts of the rotation remain unknown. No playing-time estimates are provided for Murphy, Jones, Bey or the other reserves, and the report does not say whether the starting group will be used for the full game or carried into later matchups.
The source reports Murphy’s return after a one-game absence and refers to knee tendinitis in its earlier lineup discussion. It does not provide a medical assessment, say whether the issue is resolved, or give details on any restrictions. Murray is also listed as a starter after missing recent games for personal reasons, but no further information about those absences is provided.
The report is a lineup update, not a final account of game events. It does not establish the result, player statistics, or whether any late change will occur. Those details cannot be confirmed from the source material.
Friday’s Game Will Test Rotation
The next confirmed step is the Pelicans’ Friday matchup with Minnesota, for which the five starters have been named. The game will show how New Orleans deploys Murphy after his absence and how much responsibility Jones and Bey receive from the bench, but the available report does not preview a specific minutes plan.
Further updates would be needed to confirm any late change, restrictions on Murphy, or the final rotation. After the game, the box score and team comments can establish how the lineup was used; until then, the announced starters are the only confirmed lineup details in the source.
Key Questions
Who is starting for the Pelicans against Minnesota?
Jeremiah Fears, Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy, Zion Williamson and Karlo Matković are the announced starters.
Is Trey Murphy playing Friday?
NBC Sports reports that Murphy will return after missing Wednesday’s win over Utah. The report does not provide a minutes limit or further medical details.
Who moves to the bench with Murphy back?
Herb Jones moves out of the starting lineup. NBC Sports says Jones and Saddiq Bey could also see reduced playing time, but it does not give confirmed minutes.
Why was Murphy out Wednesday?
The source confirms that Murphy missed the game against Utah and refers to knee tendinitis in its discussion of earlier lineup questions. It does not provide a detailed medical explanation for his absence.
Has New Orleans confirmed the reserves’ roles?
No. The starting five is identified, but the source does not specify the full rotation, reserve minutes or any playing-time restrictions.
Source: nbcsports.com
