Pelicans at Rockets
The Houston Rockets are not playing like a team that wants to hang on to the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference, but no other team looks like it’s ready to step up and challenge the position. The New Orleans Pelicans will take their shot at closing the gap on eighth place when they visit the Rockets on Wednesday.
Houston has dropped two in a row and six of eight to fall two games under .500 but remains a half-game clear of the similarly floundering Utah Jazz for the No. 8 spot. The Pelicans are five games behind the Rockets but believe they are still in the race if they can put together a good stretch. “I think we’ve played pretty good basketball,” New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters. “I still say that in order for us to get in the playoff race, we’re going to have to have a stretch where we win eight out of 10, or six in a row, or something like that. We’ve yet to do that. Time is very short. It’s running out. (But) as long as we’re not mathematically eliminated, we have something to play for.” The Pelicans are hoping to have a healthy Anthony Davis down the stretch and held the All-Star forward out of a loss at Minnesota on Saturday and practice on Monday to rest a sprained right big toe.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN New Orleans, ROOT (Houston)
ABOUT THE PELICANS (25-35): New Orleans is 1-6 in the seven games Davis missed this season and lost three more in which he left early due to injury. “We’re expecting him to play,” Gentry told reporters on Monday. “Obviously we kept him out of practice today, but everything seems to be OK. It will be a game-time decision, but I’m anticipating him playing.” Davis scored 30 points in a win over Oklahoma City on Thursday and was missed in Saturday’s 112-110 loss to the Timberwolves despite Ryan Anderson’s 31 points and 14 rebounds.
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (29-31): Houston’s up-and-down defensive effort hit a low point on Monday, when the Milwaukee Bucks shot 59.3 percent from the field and went 8-of-15 from 3-point range in a 128-121 win over the Rockets. Houston ranks in the bottom quarter of the league in defensive field-goal percentage, allowing opponents to go off at 46.6 percent, and are near the bottom in scoring defense as well (yielding 107.1 points). The Rockets are making a brief stop at home before hitting the road for five straight against Eastern Conference teams.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Pelicans G Eric Gordon (finger) returned from a 16-point absence on Saturday and poured in 31 points.
2. Rockets F Trevor Ariza is 15-of-32 from 3-point range in five games since the All-Star break.
3. Houston has taken two of the first three meetings this season, including a 112-111 win at New Orleans on Jan. 25.