Saddiq Bey with 19/6 points off the bench

The Pelicans are without Trey Murphy and Zion Williamson for Monday’s game, leaving two spots open in the starting lineup. Jones and Bey will fill the voids, with the latter being the better streamer for fantasy managers seeking offensive production.

The Pelicans will be without two of their top four scorers on Monday, as Williamson has joined Trey Murphy (knee) on the shelf. Saddiq Bey’s role will take on added importance, whether he moves into the starting lineup or not.

Murphy III is a late addition to Monday’s injury report, which doesn’t bode well for his availability against Golden State. If Murphy III is ultimately sidelined, Saddiq Bey and Herbert Jones could absorb his minutes.

At first glance, Bey’s 17 points might suggest a good night overall. However, he scored 12 of those points in the fourth quarter, shooting 3-of-4 from the field and 3-of-3 from the foul line. Bey didn’t provide much value in the first three quarters, which hurt the overall field-goal percentage. The fourth quarter allowed those rostering Bey to salvage some value, and he remains a player who should be rostered in some 12-team leagues.

Murphy was given a probable designation on Thursday afternoon, so this latest update isn’t a surprise. Expect Murphy to steal some playing time from Herb Jones and Saddiq Bey.

Murphy sat out Wednesday’s win over Utah, but he’s poised to return following a one-game absence. Herb Jones and Saddiq Bey could see their roles reduced with Murphy back in action.

While there is still a chance Murphy plays, trending down is never a good sign. If he doesn’t suit up, there is a decent chance Herb Jones remains a starter, even with Dejounte Murray returning. Saddiq Bey would also be in line for extra minutes.

The Pelicans outscored Atlanta 35-18 in the first quarter, with Bey scoring eight. He finished with a season-high 25, recording his second 20-point stat line this season. Just as impressive as Bey’s scoring output were the four steals, one shy of his career-high. Despite coming off the bench, Bey is productive enough to be rostered in 14-team leagues. The Pelicans play four games next week, starting with the Grizzlies on Monday.

Bey, who played 26 minutes on Wednesday, replaced Jeremiah Fears (11/4/3/1 with one three-pointer) in the Pelicans’ lineup to begin the second half. After the game, Pelicans head coach Jamahl Mosley said he made the lineup change to get more size on the court. New Orleans outscored 28-22 in the third, with Fears scoring seven and Bey four. Given the circumstances, Bey’s role is unlikely to change anytime soon.

After missing the entire 2024-25 season recovering from a torn ACL, Bey had the most productive season of his NBA career to date. Starting 64 of the 72 games he played, the 6-foot-7 forward averaged 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.1 three-pointers while shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 84.1 percent from the foul line. Injuries to other wings freed up additional opportunities for Bey last season, but the contract extension shows he has clearly locked down a key role.