28Breakdown
Performance
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January 3, 2026
Dishes six dimes in start
Poole closed with 16 points (5-16 FG, 4-11 3Pt, 2-3 FT), one rebound and six assists over 30 minutes during Friday's 122-109 loss to Portland.
Analysis
Poole made his fifth start of the regular season Friday and first since Nov. 4 due to the absences of several key starters, including Trey Murphy (back) and Saddiq Bey (hip). Poole wasn't the most efficient from the field, but he led the Pelicans with six assists and finished tied with Karlo Matkovic as the team's third-leading scorer behind Zion Williamson (35 points) and Jeremiah Fears (18 points). Across the 10 games since returning from an 18-game absence due to a left quadriceps strain, Poole has averaged 17.1 points, 3.4 assists, 2.1 rebounds, 2.4 threes and 1.0 steals over 36.4 minutes per game, though he's connected on just 27.6 percent of his three-point attempts over that span.
January 3, 2026
Gets starting nod Friday
Poole will start against the Trail Blazers on Friday.
Analysis
The Pelicans will be without several key contributors Friday, giving Poole the chance to step into the starting five for the first time since Nov. 4. Over nine outings in December, the 26-year-old shooting guard averaged 17.2 points, 3.1 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 26.0 minutes per contest.
January 1, 2026
Hits for 26 points in defeat
Poole ended with 26 points (6-14 FG, 4-10 3Pt, 10-10 FT), three rebounds and two assists in 26 minutes during Wednesday's 134-118 loss to Chicago.
Analysis
The team's unwillingness to move Poole back into the starting lineup is a bit of a head-scratcher. Coach James Borrego seems focused on developing Jeremiah Fears, and the staff may have concluded that Poole's second-unit contribution is more valuable. They may be right on that account, as Poole is certainly logging minutes like a starter. He posted his second consecutive 26-point total during the loss, and we'll get a better idea of how he's doing with his sore ankle during an upcoming back-to-back scenario next week.
December 30, 2025
Explodes for 26 points in loss
Poole ended with 26 points (7-14 FG, 4-10 3Pt, 8-8 FT), three rebounds, one assist and one block over 26 minutes during Monday's 130-125 loss to the Knicks.
Analysis
Poole could find his way back into a starting role soon, as he's consistently outperforming Jeremiah Fears off the bench. Fears logged only 22 minutes in the defeat, and Poole was obviously more effective for the duration of the game. Aside from a poor performance against the Sixers, Poole has made a strong case for a first-unit gig since returning from injury, averaging 16.1 points, 3.3 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals over the last eight games.