Pelicans at Bucks
The New Orleans Pelicans have dropped consecutive games against Eastern Conference playoff contenders, but they have a chance to go into the All-Star break on a high note against the league's worst team. The Pelicans close out the first half at Milwaukee on Wednesday, looking to send the Bucks to their fourth straight loss. New Orleans has dominated the series in recent years, winning 12 of the last 14 meetings.
New Orleans will be back home for the All-Star Game — which it is hosting — and will be represented by second-year big man Anthony Davis, but the Pelicans would first like to salvage something from a three-game road trip that has begun with losses at Brooklyn and Toronto. "That's a big game, the last one before break," guard Brian Roberts told reporters. "We feel like we just let these two get away, we just didn't play our best and we want to finish this trip with a win." The Bucks are limping into the break having lost 18 of their last 20.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN New Orleans, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
ABOUT THE PELICANS (22-29): The injury-riddled Pelicans haven't gotten much production from their starters lately with the exception of Davis. Two of their top scorers — guard Jrue Holiday (knee) and forward Ryan Anderson (back) — have been sidelined and guard Eric Gordon has scored just 17 points on 8-of-24 shooting over the past two games. New Orleans continues to get solid minutes from its reserves, though, and Tyreke Evans led the way with 23 points and 10 assists against the Raptors.
ABOUT THE BUCKS (9-42): Milwaukee's injury report is growing with center Larry Sanders (fractured orbital) out indefinitely and forwards John Henson (foot) and Caron Butler (ankle) expected to sit out along with guard O.J. Mayo (illness). Guard Luke Ridnour and forward Ersan Ilyasova also are questionable with back problems, further depleting an already weak roster. One of the few things that hasn't gone horribly wrong for the Bucks is the play of point guard Brandon Knight, who has topped 20 points in four of his past five games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Milwaukee is 1-18 against Western Conference opponents while New Orleans is 13-7 against the East.
2. Davis had 28 points on 10-for-13 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds in his only previous game against Milwaukee early last season.
3. Bucks C Zaza Pachulia has gone 19-for-20 from the foul line over the past four games, boosting his season free-throw percentage to 93.8.