Pelicans at Cavaliers
The Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers look to rebound 24 hours after a stunning loss as they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday. The Cavaliers, who have dropped two straight after a five-game winning streak, coughed up a four-point lead in the final seven seconds to lose 104-103 to Boston on Avery Bradley’s 3-pointer at the buzzer.
LeBron James poured in 30 points Friday, scoring at least 20 for the ninth straight game, but Cleveland teammate Kevin Love (thigh bruise) left the game early and the forward is questionable for Saturday. The Cavaliers have dropped five of their last six games against the Pelicans, including a 114-108 overtime decision on Dec. 4. However, New Orleans has lost three in a row after a 7-2 stretch had appeared to put it back in contention for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Forward Anthony Davis is averaging 30 points and 10 rebounds over the last three contests as the Pelicans deal with the absence of injured guards Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN New Orleans, FSN Ohio (Cleveland)
ABOUT THE PELICANS (18-31): Evans (knee), who is the third-leading scorer on the team (15.2) and the top assist man (6.6), is likely out for the sixth straight game and Gordon (finger) isn’t expected back until March. Davis averages 23.4 points and 10.3 rebounds overall while Ryan Anderson is second on the team (17.2) and shoots almost 40 percent from 3-point range. Guard Norris Cole was 1-of-10 from the field for two points in the 99-96 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday after seven straight games in double figures.
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (35-14): Love had 10 points in 22 minutes before missing the fourth quarter Friday and may not get to follow up the double-double performance he had against New Orleans earlier this season. James has scored at least 30 in 12 games and Kyrie Irving continues to progress after starting the season on the injured list - averaging 23.8 points over the past five contests. J.R. Smith is averaging 17.3 points in a three-game span and Tristan Thompson has recorded double-digit rebounds in six of his last 10 contests.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. New Orleans G Jrue Holiday stepped up his production with Evans and Gordon out, producing at least 19 points in five of the past six contests.
2. Cleveland G Matthew Dellavedova (hamstring) has missed the last two games and is questionable for Saturday.
3. The Pelicans play five of the next seven on the road, where they are 5-19 this season.