Willy Hernangomez, Garrett Temple placed in protocols

New Orleans Pelicans center Willy Hernangomez Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Pelicans' Willy Hernangomez, Garrett Temple placed in health and safety protocols

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 2/3/22

Despite holding a 19-32 record , the New Orleans Pelicans sit just one-and-a-half games behind the 10th-place Portland Trail Blazers for the final spot in the play-in tournament. The Pels will continue their current four-game road trip on Friday night against the Denver Nuggets, but learned on Thursday that they'll be down at least two important members of their rotation.

Willy Hernangomez and Garrett Temple we’re both placed in the NBA’s Health & Safety Protocols, per the Pelicans. They’ll be out for tomorrow’s game in Denver.

Josh Hart is listed as questionable due to a left knee contusion.
— Will Guillory (@WillGuillory) February 3, 2022

Garrett Temple leads the squad in games played with 49, having missed only three contests this season. The 35-year-old is with his 11th NBA team and first year with the Pelicans, and he is posting 5.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 19.9 minutes per contest with a .382/.319/.718 shooting line.

Willy Hernangomez is in his sixth season in the league and second with New Orleans. The brother of fellow NBA big man Juancho Hernangomez has averaged career-highs in points (9.2), rebounds (7.1) and assists per game (1.3) across his 28 games, including six starts this season.

Josh Hart has had a breakout year in his fifth season in the league, as he is currently averaging career-bests in points (13.4), assists (4.1) steals (1.1) and minutes per game (33.5), while also shooting a career-high 50.5% from the field. through 40 contests. The former national champion out of Villanova has scored in double figures in 21 straight games and has posted back-to-back double-doubles.

More must-reads: