Lakers at Pelicans
Anthony Davis is off to an outstanding start and the New Orleans power forward looks to record his fourth straight double-double when the Pelicans host the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. Davis is averaging 24.8 points, 13 rebounds and 4.2 blocked shots and is providing hope that New Orleans can make a run at a playoff spot. He averaged 25 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots against the Lakers last season.
Los Angeles has the worst record in the Western Conference after losing to the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday. The Lakers trailed by 17 points in the fourth quarter and used an 18-4 run to make it close before dropping to 0-3 on the road. Los Angeles has topped 100 points in five consecutive games but a leaky defense has been an issue as the Lakers have only held one of seven opponents below 100.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TWC SportsNet (Los Angeles), FSN New Orleans
ABOUT THE LAKERS (1-6): Guard Kobe Bryant had 28 points on 10-of-26 shooting against Memphis and has strung together six straight 20-point outings. Bryant has shot less than 40 percent in three straight games and his 13th miss against the Grizzlies elevated him past former Boston standout John Havlicek (13,417) for most missed shots in NBA history. Power forward Jordan Hill had 13 points and 14 rebounds for his second double-double in three games and is averaging 14.1 points and 9.4 rebounds.
ABOUT THE PELICANS (3-3): Davis received some help in Monday’s loss to Cleveland as forward Ryan Anderson scored a season-best 32 points, 23 of them coming in the first half of the 118-111 loss. Anderson made 11-of-19 shots and matched his career high of eight 3-point baskets, but he was very disappointed in the 118 points he and his teammates allowed. “Our defense really struggled in the second half – in the first half we were just making shots to get through the poor defense, but we just need to be better,” Anderson told reporters. “All season so far we’ve kind of prided ourselves on our defense and we had a letdown.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Pelicans won two of three meetings last season, with the first one halting a 12-game losing streak against Los Angeles.
2. New Orleans SG Eric Gordon averaged 20.3 points and 3.7 assists against the Lakers last season.
3. Los Angeles G Wayne Ellington was granted an indefinite leave of absence after his father was shot to death in Philadelphia on Sunday night.