Pelicans at Magic
The New Orleans Pelicans expect to get two of their top four scorers back from injury when they visit the Orlando Magic on Friday night looking to end a three-game losing streak. Leading scorer and rebounder Anthony Davis (shoulder), along with Ryan Anderson (elbow), each missed losses to Utah and Indiana before the All-Star break. The Pelicans attempt to regain their footing in the Western Conference playoff chase against Orlando, which is 2-2 since the firing of coach Jacque Vaughn.
The Magic announced that interim coach James Borrego would run the team through the rest of the season as it attempts to make more progress with a young group. New Orleans topped Orlando 101-84 on opening night in October and it will be a rematch between two of the best big men in the league with Davis taking on the Magic’s Nikola Vucevic. The Pelicans are 1 1/2 games out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN New Orleans, FSN Florida (Orlando)
ABOUT THE PELICANS (27-26): Davis sat out the All-Star Game to heal up for the playoff run and he is the go-to player for New Orleans, averaging 24.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks. Anderson scores 14.9 points while Tyreke Evans averages 16.8 points and 6.1 assists for Pelicans. Point guard Jrue Holiday (15.2 points) aggravated a lower-right leg injury recently which could keep him out another month and New Orleans acquired guard Norris Cole from Miami for John Salmons in a trade on Thursday.
ABOUT THE MAGIC (17-39): Vucevic has been the most consistent force for Orlando all season, contributing 19.6 points and 11.3 rebounds points to go along with 32 double-doubles – third in the league. Victor Oladipo continues to show progress in his second pro season while averaging 16.6 points, but must rebound from going 1-of-12 from behind the 3-point arc the last four games. Second-leading scorer Tobias Harris (knee) and forward Channing Frye (finger) are questionable for Friday’s game.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. New Orleans G Eric Gordon scored 31 in the loss to Utah and totaled nine points in the other two defeats during the three-game slide.
2. Orlando’s rookie PG Elfrid Payton has scored in double figures in four of the last five contests.
3. The Pelicans’ franchise has beaten the Magic seven of the last nine meetings, including the last two by an average of 12.5.