The New Orleans Pelicans and Philadelphia 76ers have had promising seasons derailed by multiple injuries to stars. On Friday night, CJ McCollum boosted the Pelicans and his trade value. McCollum scored 38 points and shot 13-of-24 as the shorthanded Pelicans beat the Sixers 123-115.

Nick Nurse and the Philadelphia 76ers explain what went wrong in the loss to CJ McCollum and the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Milwaukee Bucks have put a slow start behind them and are playing some of their best basketball of the season. They'll face another team that is playing better of late when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.

Tyrese Maxey had 30 points, 12 assists, and six rebounds for Philadelphia. Paul George had 25 points and 11 rebounds with five assists, Kelly Oubre Jr. added 21 points and seven rebounds, and Ricky Council IV added 13. Guerschon Yabusele added six and seven rebounds.

CJ McCollum scored 38 points to lead a New Orleans Pelicans team playing without the suspended Zion Williamson past the 76ers 123-115 on Friday night.

CJ McCollum scored 38 points as the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans opened a three-game road trip with a 123-115 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.

The Pelicans took an 87-78 lead into the fourth quarter when Alvarado drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer. They stretched the lead to 94-83 on an Alvarado assist to Theis, who finished the play with a slam. Hawkins’ four-point play with 6:49 left boosted the Pelicans' lead to 105-92.

CJ McCollum scored 38 points lead a New Orleans Pelicans team playing without the suspended Zion Williamson past the Philadelphia 76ers 123-115 PHILADELPHIA -- CJ McCollum scored 38 points to lead ...

The Pelicans trailed by 25 points before rallying, mostly behind McCollum, to win their fourth straight and seventh in the last 10. It's been an incredible midseason turnaround for New Orleans, which has gone 12-32 while battling through a rash of key injuries and illnesses.

McCollum has shouldered more of the scoring load in games the Pelicans have been without Zion Williamson. He is averaging 30.6 points in January in the seven games Williamson has missed. McCollum is averaging just 13 points in the four games Williamson also played.

The Philadelphia 76ers rank near the bottom of the power rankings while the Detroit Pistons are surging in the East.

The Bucks are currently 8-10 on the road with a point differential of +3, while the Pelicans have a 4-6 record in their last ten games at home.