Jazz at Pelicans
Anthony Davis had his way with the Utah Jazz last month but the New Orleans star may not be suited up when the Pelicans host Utah on Tuesday. Davis has missed one game so far due to a mysterious chest contusion as neither Davis nor the team has figured out when the injury occurred. Davis scored a career-high 43 points and grabbed 14 rebounds when New Orleans posted a 106-94 victory over the Jazz on Nov. 22.
Davis, who was injured in Friday’s game against Cleveland, was 16-of-23 from the field against the Jazz last month and the Pelicans badly missed him during Sunday’s 128-122 overtime loss to the Golden State Warriors. “We’ve got heart,” point guard Jrue Holiday told reporters. “Even with a couple of our best players out (Davis and guard Eric Gordon), someone can step up and anything can happen.” The Jazz have lost 11 of their last 12 games after falling 93-84 to the Washington Wizards on Sunday.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ROOT (Utah), FSN New Orleans
ABOUT THE JAZZ (6-18): Power forward Derrick Favors (ankle) is questionable and could miss his second consecutive game, which would again give Rudy Gobert the start. Small forward Gordon Hayward poured in 31 points against the Pelicans last month but he struggled in the loss to Washington, scoring 16 points on just 4-of-14 shooting. Guard Alec Burks had 19 points against the Wizards and is averaging 16.3 points in four games since returning from a shoulder injury.
ABOUT THE PELICANS (11-12): Swingman Tyreke Evans stepped up with a season-high 34 points to go with eight rebounds and five assists in the loss to the Warriors. That followed up a 31-point, 10-assist outing against Cleveland as Evans raised his season average to 16.9 points. Holiday also scored 30 against Warriors and has two 30-point outings in a three-game stretch, averaging 25.3 points during the span.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Utah is 2-9 on the road after losing the opener of a six-trip excursion.
2. Pelicans C Omer Asik had eight rebounds against Golden State, ending a string of seven straight double-digit efforts on the boards.
3. Hayward is averaging 18.3 points over the last four games but has made just 3-of-19 3-point shots.