Pelicans at Nets
Anthony Davis is trying to drag the New Orleans Pelicans into the playoffs and maybe earn himself some MVP votes along the way. Davis will try to follow up a career night when the Pelicans continue their road trip by visiting the slumping Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday. The Nets have postseason aspirations as well but have dropped three straight to fall to the back of a cluster of teams battling for the final two spots in the East.
Davis went 17-of-23 from the field and scored eight straight points during a decisive run in crunch time en route to matching his career high with 43 in a win at the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday. The star forward is averaging 33.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.5 blocks while shooting 58.9 percent from the field in four games since returning from a shoulder injury. Brooklyn’s slide has pushed them to 11th place in the East, 2 1/2 games south of the eighth-place Charlotte Hornets.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN New Orleans, YES (Brooklyn)
ABOUT THE PELICANS (35-29): Davis has played at least 40 minutes in each of the four games since his return to the lineup and could have even more responsibility heaped on his shoulders if Tyreke Evans can’t go Tuesday after leaving the 114-103 win over the Bucks late in the third quarter with a left ankle injury. New Orleans has been able to overcome injuries to several of its key players of late and picked up its eighth win in the last 10 games to pull within a half-game of the Oklahoma City Thunder for the No. 8 spot in the West. The Pelicans got a lift from Elliot Williams and Norris Cole off the bench when Evans went down, and Eric Gordon could take over more point guard duties if necessary.
ABOUT THE NETS (25-36): Brooklyn looked like it was ready to make a move after earning a win over the Golden State Warriors on March 2, but has lost the last three to clinch a losing five-game homestand. "We are just trying to play well, be consistent,” Nets coach Lionel Hollins told reporters. “If we play well enough and we are good enough, we will make the playoffs. If we don't, we won't. That is not my goal right now. My goal is to get us to play as consistently at home as we do on the road.” Brooklyn hits the road for four straight after facing the Pelicans.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Nets G Deron Williams is averaging nine points on 7-of-30 shooting in the last three games.
2. Gordon is 10-of-18 from 3-point range over the last three games.
3. New Orleans knocked off Brooklyn 102-96 at home Feb. 25 despite being without Davis.