1)      Basketball fans living in the city often described as “the birthplace of jazz” will be rooting for the Jazz this afternoon at 1:30, when the Utah Jazz face the eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies (32-36). That’s one of the relevant games on the scoreboard today in the heated Western Conference race for eighth and ninth place. There is also a 3 p.m. game between No. 10 San Antonio (29-37) and Denver. The 11th-place Pelicans (29-38), who will practice Wednesday, enter today 2.5 games behind the Grizzlies and trailing the Spurs by just a half game. Last night, No. 9 Portland (31-38) held on to beat Houston, putting the Trail Blazers one game ahead of the Pelicans, which is essentially a two-game edge based on the tiebreaker being winning percentage. Pelicans.com will have a full update on New Orleans’ playoff situation and scenarios later today.

2)      The Pelicans posted their most critical win of the 2019-20 regular season Monday, beating Memphis for a third straight time, this one by a 109-99 margin.

3)      New Orleans will play another vital game Thursday, facing Sacramento at 12:30 p.m. Central. It’s the first game of a back-to-back, which will be capped by a Friday evening matchup vs. Washington. The “Pelicans Weekly” radio show will air Thursday at 11:30 a.m. on 100.3 FM – followed by the pregame show – while pregame coverage on Fox Sports New Orleans TV begins at noon. Nationally, Pelicans-Kings will be carried on NBA TV.

4)      Also Thursday, a potentially crucial matchup will be Portland vs. Denver at 7, the second straight day the Nuggets will factor into the pursuit of spots in the 8/9 play-in round.

5)      Check Pelicans.com later today for coverage from practice in Orlando.