Pelicans at Jazz
The New Orleans Pelicans await the status of star forward Anthony Davis
as they continue a three-game road trip at Utah on Friday. Davis left
the team's 137-107 loss at Denver on Wednesday - its third consecutive
setback since a win over the Jazz last Friday - due to back spasms and
the Pelicans likely will not take any chances with their best player
with just seven games left. With Davis playing just 11 minutes
Wednesday, the Pelicans gave up a season-high in points.
Including
the recent setback to New Orleans, Utah has dropped five straight to
climb the franchise list for losses in a season. The Jazz' 52 losses are
tied for the seventh-most in team history and they still could match
the 1974-75 New Orleans Jazz (23-59) for the worst all-time club record
if they lose out. At the very least, Utah should be well-rested with
three days off since a 92-83 loss to New York on Monday.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, FSN New Orleans, ROOT Sports (Utah)
ABOUT THE PELICANS (32-43):
While Davis nurses his wounds, the Pelicans have yet to close the door
on guard Eric Gordon's season. Head coach Monty Williams told reporters
Wednesday that the team likely will not shut Gordon down for the season
as he nurses a knee injury, and rather take it game-by-game. Gordon, who
has missed seven consecutive contests, is the team's third-leading
scorer (15.4) and leads the way with 101 3-pointers.
ABOUT THE JAZZ (23-52): Utah
is averaging just 89.5 points over an eight-game stretch as its
already-meager offensive attack has begun to bottom out. The Jazz shot
38.8 percent in the loss to the Knicks, the club's sixth in its last
seven home games. Gordon Hayward, who led the way with 18 points, had 27
points and a then career-high 10 assists in Utah's win over New Orleans
at home on November 13 and also produced 21 in the loss to the Pelicans
last week.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. In between his two
solid efforts against the Pelicans, Hayward also had a 1-for-17 effort
from the field in a loss at New Orleans on Nov. 20.
2. Pelicans F Tyreke Evans has scored in double figures in 17 straight games while shooting 50 percent or better 10 times.
3. Utah is 26-8 all-time at home against New Orleans.