Last updated: T-2h (~6:30 PM ET, April 7, 2026)
The Pelicans' injury situation has worsened materially since the early research run (~10h ago). Two key players have been upgraded from Questionable → OUT, and two new additions to the injury report have appeared:
| Player | Early Entry Status | Updated Status (T-2h) | Injury | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trey Murphy III | OUT | OUT (confirmed, no change) | Right ankle sprain | CBS Sports, Apr 7 |
| Dejounte Murray | QUESTIONABLE | ⬇️ OUT — downgraded | Left hand contusion; expected out until at least Apr 10 | CBS Sports, Apr 7 |
| Karlo Matkovic | QUESTIONABLE | ⬇️ OUT — downgraded | Low back spasms; expected out until at least Apr 10 | CBS Sports, Apr 7 |
| Yves Missi | NOT LISTED | 🆕 QUESTIONABLE — new addition | Right hand sprain (late addition to report) | ESPN, Apr 7; FOX Sports, Apr 7 |
| Jordan Hawkins | NOT LISTED | 🆕 GAME TIME DECISION — new addition | Illness | CBS Sports, Apr 7 |
| Bryce McGowens | OUT | OUT (confirmed, no change) | Right small toe fracture | CBS Sports, Apr 7 |
Key notes:
The spread has moved 1–2 full points toward Utah since the early entry — from -11.5 to somewhere between -9.5 and -10.5 depending on the book. The most current reading (SportsGrid/Kalshi, 6:23 PM ET) shows -9.5, representing a 2-full-point move toward the Jazz. The moneyline has simultaneously shifted slightly toward NOP (-550 vs. earlier -520 to -583 range), suggesting some books are responding to injury news asymmetrically. The line movement is almost certainly driven by Murray being confirmed OUT and Missi's late addition as questionable — sharp money has come in on Utah +11.5 to +10.5. The SportsGrid Kalshi -9.5 reading may indicate the market has moved even further on prediction markets vs. traditional sportsbooks.
NOP has won both 2025–26 season meetings against Utah:
NOP has won 7 consecutive H2H games vs. Utah and is 7-3 in L10 meetings. (OddsShark, Apr 7)
NOP Advantages:
NOP Vulnerabilities — Significantly Worsened:
Ace Bailey DOWNGRADED to DOUBTFUL (knee): Bailey has moved from questionable to doubtful per ESPN (~6 hours ago), making him unlikely to play. ESPN's spin: "Bailey is now unlikely to play Tuesday after initially being listed as questionable." His absence would leave Utah without its top scorer (20.2 PPG, 5.0 REB, 2.6 AST, 1.5 BLK over last 11 games) and primary offensive option. Note: CBS Sports, FanDuel Research, and The Athletic still list him as questionable (earlier reports), but ESPN/RotowireNBA's most recent update is DOUBTFUL — treat as the operative status heading into tip. Cross-reference at tip-off. (ESPN, Apr 7)
Kyle Filipowski UPGRADED to PROBABLE (back): Filipowski has moved from questionable to probable per ESPN (~6 hours ago), and is expected to play. ESPN spin: "With the Jazz thin up front, Filipowski may play a featured role." He logged 22 pts/14 reb vs OKC on Apr 5 and is averaging 22.2 pts/10.0 reb/4.0 ast in his last six games. His availability is significant — he's Utah's only functional big man with all centers out. Note: CBS Sports (updated Mon Apr 6) and FuboTV still list him as questionable, but ESPN is the most recent update. (ESPN, Apr 7)
| Player | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ace Bailey | Knee | DOUBTFUL (downgraded from questionable) |
| Kyle Filipowski | Back | PROBABLE (upgraded from questionable) |
| Keyonte George | Hamstring | OUT (out until at least Apr 10) |
| Isaiah Collier | Hamstring | OUT (out until at least Apr 10) |
| EJ Harkless | Hamstring | OUT (out until at least Apr 10) |
| Lauri Markkanen | Hip | OUT (out for season/re-evaluated ~Apr 10) |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | Knee | OUT for season |
| Walker Kessler | Shoulder | OUT for season |
| Jusuf Nurkić | Nose | OUT for season |
Sources: CBS Sports, Apr 6; SI.com, Apr 7; ESPN, Apr 7
With Bailey doubtful and all season-long absences holding, Utah's likely rotation is: Filipowski (start, de facto C/PF), Brice Sensabaugh, Cody Williams, John Konchar, Svi Mykhailiuk, Bez Mbeng. ESPN explicitly named Konchar, Mbeng, and Mykhailiuk as candidates for increased roles with Bailey out. This is effectively a G-League-adjacent roster against a Pelicans team that, while on an 8-game losing streak, still has Saddiq Bey (averaging 20+ PPG last 10), Derik Queen, and a functional rotation.
Jazz on 1 day of rest, second game of a back-to-back-adjacent road trip. 7-8 man rotation with fatigue in the second unit is a real concern, especially with a thin bench now further undermined by Bailey's doubtful status.