Magic at Pelicans
With Anthony Davis entering his third season and a prime candidate to take his game to an elite level, the New Orleans Pelicans have their sights set on a playoff push. That quest begins in earnest Tuesday at home against Orlando. Davis, who didn't turn 21 until March, was one of five NBA players to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds last season and he led the NBA in blocks per game (2.8), guiding the Pelicans to a seven-game improvement from their previous campaign.
The Magic are coming off a 23-win season and will begin their regular-season slate without second-year guard Victor Oladipo, who had surgery to repair a facial fracture and is expected to miss roughly the first month of the season. Oladipo averaged 13.8 points in his rookie season and should eventually shoulder more of the offensive load with shooting guard Arron Afflalo shipped off to Denver. Orlando, which had one of the youngest rosters in the league last season, expect big things from rookies Elfrid Payton and Aaron Gordon, both top 10 picks.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Florida (Orlando), FSN New Orleans
ABOUT THE MAGIC (2013-14: 23-59): In Payton, who is expected to start at point guard, and Gordon, who figures to be a key contributor off the bench, the Magic have some promising youngsters to pair with Oladipo going forward. However, one of their veterans, forward Channing Frye, begins the season with a bit of a question mark hanging over him as he continues to recover from a sprained left knee. Frye - who averaged 2.0 3-pointers per game last season with Phoenix - is doubtful for the opener but will figure into the starting mix once healthy.
ABOUT THE PELICANS (2013-14: 34-48): While Davis looks to build upon a solid 2013-14 season that came to an end due to a sore back in April, several other key Pelicans are making a return to the court after suffering season-ending injuries. Forward Ryan Anderson will be in action for the first time since suffering a herniated disk at Boston on Jan. 3 while starting guards Jrue Holiday (leg) and Eric Gordon (knee) are back in the fold for the first time since Jan. 8 and March 21, respectively. The trio averaged a combined 49.5 points when healthy with Anderson the team's top 3-point threat and Holiday leading the team in assists (7.9).
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Davis averaged 24 points, 18 rebounds and five blocked shots in two games versus Orlando last season.
2. Magic F Tobias Harris averaged 15.8 points on 50.8 percent shooting after the All-Star break in 2013-14.
3. New Orleans ranked sixth in the league from 3-point distance (37.3 percent) while Orlando allowed opponents to shoot 37.1 percent from beyond the arc, tied for the fourth-highest total.