The Washington Wizards aim for their sixth straight win over New Orleans when the Pelicans visit the nation's capital Saturday. The Wizards were beginning to look like a serious contender in the East before losing two straight, and they hope to get back on track against a New Orleans team they haven't lost to since Feb. 1, 2011. The Pelicans have dropped two straight and four of six to slip to 10th in the West.
The Wizards have been one of the top defensive teams in the league for most of the season, but they've surrendered 219 points during their two-game losing streak. "Our defensive pressure the last two games has been gone for whatever reason," Washington coach Randy Wittman told reporters. "We've got to find that back." New Orleans has had trouble at the other end, averaging just 90 points during its two-game skid and failing to break 100 in its last four losses.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBATV, FSN New Orleans, CSN Washington Plus
ABOUT THE PELICANS (7-7): New Orleans shook up the lineup against Atlanta, starting Austin Rivers at shooting guard and moving Tyreke Evans (15.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists) to small forward, but Rivers went 0-for-8 and was held scoreless. That's only the start of the Pelicans' offensive woes, as star big man Anthony Davis (24.6 points, 11.2 rebounds) has been limited to 14 points in each of the past two games, matching his season low. Three-point bomber Ryan Anderson has been the most consistent threat the past two games, scoring 20 points in each despite going just 5-for-15 from 3-point range.
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (9-5): Washington needs to get the backcourt duo of John Wall (18.6 points, 9.2 assists) and Bradley Beal (14.6 points) back on track after they combined for only 16 points on 6-of-16 shooting in Wednesday's 113-87 loss at Cleveland. The Wizards also have been shorthanded in the frontcourt with forward Nene (10.6 points) missing the past two games with plantar fasciitis. Veteran Paul Pierce (13.3 points) has had the hot hand lately, averaging 16 points over the past five games, including a season-high 25 in Saturday's win over Milwaukee.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. New Orleans has averaged 90.5 points while going 0-4 in the first game of back-to-backs but has put up 104 points per contest while going 3-0 in the second game.
2. The Pelicans are 7-0 when they shoot for a higher percentage than the opposition.
3. The Wizards are 8-0 when they commit fewer turnovers than their opponent.