Lakers at Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans are inching closer to the final playoff spot in the Western Conference after winning six of the last eight games and will face a big test on their home court from the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night. The Pelicans have won 20 of 31 games since a 6-22 start, and after receiving 29 points from Brandon Ingram en route to a 116-104 victory over Cleveland on Friday, trail Memphis by 2 1/2 games for eighth place in the West.
“Things are only going to get better going from here,” New Orleans point guard Lonzo Ball told reporters after the latest win. “We just got our team back, so hopefully we can make a playoff push. … We still have time, that’s the great thing. We kind of control our own destiny.” The Pelicans, who lost the last meeting at Los Angeles 118-109 on Tuesday, would likely play the Western-leading Lakers in the first round of the playoffs if they continue their ascent and grab the eighth spot. Los Angeles had won seven straight before falling behind by 12 at halftime and never recovering in a 105-88 setback at Memphis on Saturday night and will try to avoid its first losing streak since a four-game run in December. Anthony Davis makes his second appearance for the Lakers at New Orleans since being traded by the Pelicans in the offseason, and the All-Star forward had 41 points to go along with nine rebounds in a 114-110 win on Nov. 27 in the first.
TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN, Spectrum SportsNet, FS New Orleans, TSN3
ABOUT THE LAKERS (45-13): Davis managed 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting Saturday and LeBron James recorded his first double-double in four games since the All-Star break as he finished with 19 points, 10 assists and eight boards. Forward Kyle Kuzma had 10 points Saturday and is averaging 13.3 over his last four while guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 11 as Los Angeles shot 40.9 percent from the field and turned the ball over 14 times. Forward Markieff Morris, who signed as a free agent after clearing waivers on Monday, is averaging 5.7 points on 6-of-17 shooting, 3.0 rebounds and 17 minutes over the past three games.
ABOUT THE PELICANS (26-33): Ingram had 34 points against his former team on Tuesday and leads the team with 24.8 per game while rookie forward Zion Williamson continues the strong start to his career averaging 23.4 points on 58.1 percent shooting in his first 14 NBA contests. Ball adds 11.6 points per game and tops New Orleans in assists (5.3) after averaging nine over the last four games, running the show for the NBA’s fifth-best offense entering Saturday (115.8). Coach Alvin Gentry told the New Orleans Times-Picayune of Ball: “I think playing in a system like we’ve got is going to enhance his game and give him an opportunity to be who he is.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Los Angeles G Danny Green, who scored 17 against New Orleans last Tuesday, sat out Saturday with a sore hip and is questionable for Sunday.
2. New Orleans G J.J. Redick (14.9 points) left Friday’s game with a hamstring injury and is questionable.
3. The Lakers have won the last five games in the series, including three this season by a combined 23 points.