Pelicans' Karlo Matkovic: Plays garbage time in loss
Rotowire
Matkovic (back) recorded four points (2-3 FG, 0-1 3Pt), four rebounds, one assist and one steal while playing the final 6:01 of Wednesday's 119-100 loss to the Trail Blazers.
The rookie big man hadn't appeared in a game since Dec. 4 due to a low back disc protrusion, but after getting cleared to play early in the week, he saw action at the tail end of Wednesday's blowout loss, when most of the Pelicans' key players had checked out of the contest for good. Matkovic will likely continue to see most of his playing time in end-of-game scenarios while he remains with the Pelicans, though he could be assigned to the G League's Birmingham Squadron in the near future to get some more extensive minutes.
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Pelicans' Karlo Matkovic: Available for Tuesday
Rotowire
Matkovic (back) is available for Tuesday's game against Minnesota.
Matkovic will be available for the first time since Dec. 4. He wasn't a consistent rotation player before his injury, however, and he's not guaranteed any minutes Tuesday.
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Pelicans' Karlo Matkovic: Questionable for Tuesday
Rotowire
Matkovic (back) is questionable for Tuesday's game against the Timberwolves.
Matkovic hasn't played since Dec. 4 and just recently progressed to the return-to-competition conditioning phase of his rehab program. If he does get the green light for Tuesday, he won't be guaranteed a rotation spot.
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Pelicans' Karlo Matkovic: Remains out
Rotowire
Matkovic (back) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Heat, Jim Eichenhofer of the Pelicans' official site reports.
Matkovic, who hasn't played since Dec. 4 due to low back disc protrusion, progressed to the return-to-competition conditioning phase of his rehab program before Christmas but remains week-to-week. Even when available, it's unlikely Matkovic has a role with the NBA squad and will likely return to action in the G League.
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Pelicans' Karlo Matkovic: Considered week-to-week
Rotowire
Matkovic (back) will be week-to-week going forward, the Pelicans announced Tuesday.
Matkovic has progressed to the return to play conditioning phase of his rehabilitation program but will miss another week of action. He's missed the past nine games for the Pelicans, but he could have a larger role in the near future with the franchise possibly looking to be sellers at the deadline.
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Pelicans' Karlo Matkovic: Ruled out Sunday
Rotowire
Matkovic (back) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Nuggets.
Matkovic's absence streak will extend to nine outings while he deals with a lower-back disc protrusion. The 23-year-old's next opportunity to feature will come Thursday against Houston.
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Pelicans' Karlo Matkovic: Remains out for Saturday
Rotowire
Matkovic (back) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Knicks.
Matkovic will remain sidelined while he deals with a lower back disc protrusion, and he hasn't appeared in an NBA game since Dec. 1. The 23-year-old's next chance to feature will come Sunday against the Nuggets.
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Pelicans' Karlo Matkovic: Still sidelined
Rotowire
Matkovic (back) won't play in Thursday's game against the Rockets.
Matkovic has been dealing with a low back disc protrusion and hasn't appeared in a game since Dec. 4 at either the NBA or G League level. He remains without a timetable for return.
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Pelicans' Karlo Matkovic: Won't play Sunday
Rotowire
Matkovic (back) is out for Sunday's game versus the Pacers.
Matkovic hasn't played for the Pelicans or the G League's Birmingham Squadron since Dec. 4, and his continued absence due to a bout with a low back disc protrusion won't affect New Orleans' rotation. His next chance to suit up will come Thursday versus Houston.
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Pelicans' Karlo Matkovic: Ruled out for Thursday
Rotowire
Matkovic (back) will not play Thursday versus Sacramento.
Matkovic has logged just five appearances and 39 total minutes of action for New Orleans this season. Despite injury woes and a lack of frontcourt depth for the Pelicans, Matkovic has been unable to carve out a role.
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Pelicans' Karlo Matkovic: Won't play Sunday
Rotowire
Matkovic (back) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Spurs.
Matkovic will miss both halves of the Pelicans' weekend back-to-back set due to lower-back soreness. However, his absence shouldn't impact New Orleans' rotation.
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Pelicans' Karlo Matkovic: Questionable for Saturday
Rotowire
Matkovic is questionable for Saturday's game against the Thunder due to low back soreness.
Matkovic was recalled from the Pelican's G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron, on Thursday. His availability for Saturday's game is in question, but even if he's able to play, he's not expected to see significant minutes at the NBA level.
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Pelicans' Karlo Matkovic: Won't play Saturday vs. OKC
Rotowire
Matkovic (back) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Thunder, Erin Summers of the Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network reports.
Matkovic is dealing with lower back soreness, and he will be held out of Saturday's game as a result. He could return for Sunday's game against the Spurs, though the 23-year-old forward hasn't seen much playing time off the bench even when he is available to play.
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Pelicans' Karlo Matkovic: Returns to parent club
Rotowire
The Pelicans recalled Matkovic from the G League's Birmingham Squadron on Thursday.
Matkovic is unlikely to receive significant playing time for the Pelicans while with the NBA club. The 23-year-old forward is averaging 0.8 points and 2.0 rebounds in 7.8 minutes across five appearances with New Orleans this season.
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Pelicans' Karlo Matkovic: Returns from G League
Rotowire
The Pelicans recalled Matkovic from the G League's Birmingham Squadrons on Saturday.
Matkovic is coming off a dominant double-double performance against the Memphis Hustle on Saturday, finishing with 29 points, 11 rebounds and six assists over 32 minutes. Across eight outings in the G League, he's averaged 18.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 blocks over 30.3 minutes per game. Matkovic retains a spot on the Pelicans' 15-man roster, but he hasn't been a regular member of the rotation at the NBA level during his rookie season.
The Pelicans recalled Matkovic from the G League's Birmingham Squadron on Monday.
Matkovic made four appearances with the Squadron, averaging 17.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 27.4 minutes per game. On Sunday, he posted 24 points (8-12 FG, 4-6 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 10 rebounds, two blocks and an assist in 27 minutes during a blowout win over the G League's Oklahoma City Blue.
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Pelicans' Karlo Matkovic: Back with NBA club
Rotowire
The Pelicans recalled Matkovic from the G League's Birmingham Squadron on Thursday.
The Pelicans are dealing with a variety of injuries early on in the season, so the team has elected to add depth in the form of Matkovic and Antonio Reeves. Matkovic has seen limited playing time so far this year for New Orleans, logging five minutes in two appearances.
