The New Orleans Pelicans take on the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on Wednesday night in the 2022-23 regular-season opener for both teams.

The Pelicans (36-46 in 2021-22 season) have high hopes for the news season, with the strong expectations stemming from both their improvement last season and the long-awaited return of star big man Zion Williamson after he missed all of last season with a foot injury. New Orleans made noise beyond the regular season as well, besting the Spurs and Clippers in the play-in round before also taking two games from the Suns in the Western Conference quarterfinal. The Pelicans will surround Williamson with all of the key talent that got the team that far last season, as CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valanciunas and Herbert Jones are all back to form what should be a formidable starting five that could reach much greater heights in the coming campaign.

The Pelicans will be without Kira Lewis (knee) for Wednesday's contest. Jaxson Hayes (elbow) will carry a questionable tag.

The Nets (44-38 in 2021-22 season) will also be on a quest to notably improve on a profoundly disappointing 2021-22 season that began with sky-high expectations and ended with an ugly Eastern Conference first-round playoff sweep at the hands of the eventual conference champion Boston Celtics. After no shortage of talk surrounding his desire to play elsewhere, Kevin Durant mended fences with team brass and returns alongside Kyrie Irving, with the superstar duo set to be joined by Ben Simmons in his first action since the final game of the Sixers' semifinal-round series against Hawks back in June 2021. However, Brooklyn will start the season without two key complementary pieces, as Joe Harris and Seth Curry will be out to start the season as they finish getting back to full health from respective ankle issues.

The Nets will list Harris (ankle), Curry (ankle) and T.J. Warren (foot) as out for Wednesday's game.

The Nets swept the two-game 2021-22 regular-season series from the Pelicans.