Pelicans at Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets will attempt to stretch their home winning streak over New Orleans to six games when they host the Pelicans on Friday. One of Denver’s home victories last season over New Orleans was by 30 points and the Nuggets haven’t lost at home to the Pelicans since the 2011-12 campaign. Denver has currently won two straight games while New Orleans posted a road win in Sacramento on Tuesday.
The Nuggets were 2-7 but consecutive wins over Cleveland and Oklahoma City have boosted the psyche of the roster. “Confidence breeds confidence,” guard Arron Afflalo told reporters. “The more victories you get, the more of that feeling you want.” New Orleans received 28 points and nine rebounds from standout power forward Anthony Davis in the win over the Kings and is 1-1 on a four-game road trip.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, FSN New Orleans, Altitude (Denver)
ABOUT THE PELICANS (6-4): Swingman Tyreke Evans is off to a strong start and is averaging 16.1 points and shooting 46.7 percent from 3-point range. The improved long-range shooting is stunning as Evans shot less than 30 percent from behind the arc in four of his first five seasons. The athletic Evans fared well against Denver last season, averaging 22 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists while shooting 50 percent from the field.
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (4-7): Point guard Ty Lawson had 15 points and a season-best 15 assists in the win over Oklahoma City for his third double-double in four games. He is averaging 19.8 points over his last five outings and his recent strong play has energized a team that got off to a slow start. Lawson is averaging 16.7 points and 9.1 assists – the latter being slightly more than the career-best 8.8 he averaged last season.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Davis has scored 20 or more points in seven straight games and nine of 10.
2. Denver PF Kenneth Faried averaged 22.7 points and 12 rebounds and shot 70 percent from the field against New Orleans last season.
3. Pelicans C Omer Asik (back) could miss his third straight game.