Rockets at Pelicans
Anthony Davis got the better of Dwight Howard in the last meeting between the two standout big men and is hoping for a repeat performance when the New Orleans Pelicans host the Houston Rockets on Friday. Davis put up 30 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks in a win at Houston on Dec. 18 and is enjoying a run of four straight double-doubles. Howard is deferring most of the scoring responsibilities to James Harden, who is on a prolific pace.
Harden is averaging 34.6 points while shooting 56.3 percent from the field and 52.6 percent from beyond the arc in the last five games, helping to cover over slumps elsewhere on the roster. “My teammates were looking for me off of pin-downs and in transition, and things like that,” Harden told reporters after knocking down a career-high eight 3-pointers in a win over Charlotte on Wednesday. “My job is to shoot the basketball and have confidence in it.” The Pelicans are coming off an overtime loss at San Antonio on Wednesday.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ROOT Southwest (Houston), FSN New Orleans
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (22-9): Houston is integrating Josh Smith and Corey Brewer into the offense, and Smith is having a difficult time finding his way. The veteran forward scored 21 points off the bench in his Rockets debut on Dec. 26 but totaled 13 points on 5-of-20 shooting in the last three games after moving into the starting lineup. Smith is forming an unproductive starting pair with fellow forward Trevor Ariza, who is shooting a career-low 36.1 percent from the floor this season and is 4-of-23 from beyond the arc in the last three contests.
ABOUT THE PELICANS (16-16): New Orleans alternated wins and losses over the last eight games since grabbing that 99-90 victory at Houston. The Pelicans appeared to have a victory in hand against San Antonio on Wednesday but center Omer Asik tipped a shot into the wrong basket while trying to break up a pass at the buzzer in regulation, and New Orleans ended up with a 95-93 overtime loss. “When it went up I saw (Asik) have his hand right there,” Davis told reporters. “It was tough, but stuff like that happens. Time to play another five minutes. We battled again, but didn’t come out with the win.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Brewer was held to five points on Wednesday after scoring in double figures in each of his first four games with the Rockets.
2. Houston had taken four straight in the series before dropping the last two.
3. New Orleans F John Salmons (personal) has missed the last two games and is questionable for Friday.