Mavericks at Pelicans
Anthony Davis enjoyed a memorable season-opening performance and so did new running mate Omer Asik as the New Orleans Pelicans look for a 2-0 start on Saturday against the visiting Dallas Mavericks. Davis had 26 points, 17 rebounds and tied his career high of nine blocks and Asik contributed 14 points, 17 rebounds and a career high-tying five blocks in Tuesday’s win over Orlando. “He does many things so I don’t have to do much,” Asik told reporters of Davis. “So we are helping each other on the court.”
Dallas has split its first two games and recorded its initial win with a 120-102 trouncing of the Utah Jazz on Thursday. Forwards Dirk Nowitzki and Chandler Parsons scored 21 points apiece as the Mavericks displayed solid balance with seven players in double figures. “I just have to keep everybody as involved as possible and keep our competitive level and energy level really high,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle told reporters. "That is what this season is going to be about.”
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (Dallas), FSN New Orleans
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (1-1): Parsons rebounded from a miserable team debut – five points on 2-of-10 shooting – to look more like the player Dallas expects after giving him a three-year, $46 million free-agent deal. “I definitely wanted to bounce back,” Parsons told reporters. “You never want to play like I did the first game, but every player has nights like that.” Centers Tyson Chandler (13 points, 5-of-5 shooting) and Brandan Wright (14 points, 6-of-7) were solid against Utah and now face a step-up in opponents with Davis and Asik.
ABOUT THE PELICANS (1-0): Forward Ryan Anderson is back after major neck surgery that prematurely ended his 2013-14 season and he contributed 22 points and nine rebounds against the Magic. He also knocked down three 3-pointers in his first outing since suffering a herniated disk against the Boston Celtics on Jan. 3 and eventually undergoing cervical spine surgery. “It was good for us and good for Ryan,” New Orleans coach Monty Williams told reporters. “It was almost like a statement for him that he was back because he has the ability to change a game with his shooting.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Mavericks went 4-0 against New Orleans last season and have won the last seven meetings.
2. Pelicans PG Jrue Holiday needed five stitches above his right eye after Tuesday’s opener but is expected to play against Dallas.
3. Nowitzki averaged 25.8 points against the Pelicans last season while SG Monta Ellis averaged 21.5 points, 7.3 assists and 2.5 steals.