At long last, pure Duke basketball junkies have a reason to warm up the TV.
Though we’re still more than a week away from seeing Duke basketball products in official NBA games — the league’s resumption begins on July 30 — Wednesday evening provides an opportunity to watch up to five of them on the same court taking part in a scrimmage.
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Yes, for the first time in more than four months, fans can watch Blue Devil faces in live-action. Hallelujah.
The 28-36 New Orleans Pelicans, who enter the bubble 3.5 games out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference with eight games remaining in the shortened regular season, will square off against the 30-34 Brooklyn Nets (No. 7 in the East) at 7 p.m. EST in the second half of the televised doubleheader (the Orlando Magic play the Los Angeles Clippers at 3 p.m.). It will air on NBA TV plus via this link on the Pelicans’ official site.
One last tune-up before tonight's scrimmage#WontBowDown | @OchsnerHealth pic.twitter.com/x4bAd00EUT
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) July 22, 2020
Five Duke basketball names folks can expect to see in the scrimmage
And of course, all Dukies should know that the Pelicans, aka the Bayou Blue Devils, feature five former Duke basketball players: JJ Redick, Jahlil Okafor, Brandon Ingram, Frank Jackson, and Zion Williamson. Unfortunately, though, the main attraction of the bunch, Williamson, left the NBA’s Disney Orlando campus on July 16 in order to attend to an undisclosed family emergency and has yet to return.
Nevertheless, in addition to the four Duke basketball alums who should see minutes for New Orleans in the scrimmage, 2010 Blue Devil national champ Lance Thomas is likely to get some run for Brooklyn after signing on with the franchise on July 14 in an attempt to give the Nets another veteran presence for their playoff push (Brooklyn star and former one-and-done Dukie Kyrie Irving is still rehabbing from February shoulder surgery and did not make the trip to Florida).
Despite not all the possible pieces in place, it’s hoops on TV that includes Blue Devil names. At this point, we’ll gladly settle, without complaint, for even just small doses of Redick, Okafor, Ingram, Jackson, and Thomas.
Stay tuned to Ball Durham for more news and views regarding all things Duke basketball.