Clippers at Pelicans
The Los Angeles Clippers will try to turn around an ill-timed slide when they continue a long road trip at the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday. After a 24-7 stretch, the Clippers have lost three of four to hinder their chances at climbing the ladder in the Western Conference.
They will enter this one — the fourth of five straight on the road — four games behind third-place Oklahoma City and four up on fifth-place Memphis, which knocked off Los Angeles 113-102 on Saturday. Chris Paul scored 26 points but the Clippers were outrebounded by the shorthanded Grizzlies by a 44-30 margin in falling to 1-2 on the trip. Los Angeles might be licking its chops inside Sunday while Pelicans forward Anthony Davis sits this one out with knee and shoulder ailments. He had a bit role in New Orleans 117-112 loss to Portland on Friday, the squad's ninth loss in 11 games.
TV: 6 p.m. ET, PRIME TICKET (Los Angeles), FSN New Orleans
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (43-25): Jeff Green left Saturday's loss after having his head cut open after taking an elbow, but some rest could serve him well. The streaky forward is 9-of-32 from the floor during his team's current 1-3 swoon, and fellow starter Luc Richard Mbah a Moute has struggled as well as the Clippers await the return of the injured Blake Griffin. Mbah a Moute has shot 2-of-9 with one assist in 62 minutes in Los Angeles' last three losses.
ABOUT THE PELICANS (25-43): Davis was limited to 14 minutes in Friday's loss before he was forced to depart, and the organization has not ruled out shutting down its superstar forward for the remainder of the season. "I wouldn't say no to that. I wouldn't say no to that," coach Alvin Gentry told reporters Saturday. "I think we've gotta be smart collectively, along with him." Ryan Anderson, who would have a few more scoring opportunities without Davis in the lineup, is averaging 29.5 points in his last two games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Clippers C DeAndre Jordan is 14-of-14 from the floor in his last two games and 25-of-26 during a four-game stretch.
2. Los Angeles has taken 13 of the last 17 encounters.
3. Pelicans PG Jrue Holiday hit all four of his 3-pointers against Portland and has scored at least 30 points in three of his last six games.