Thunder at Pelicans
The two leading scorers in the NBA will share the floor on Wednesday when the Oklahoma City Thunder visit the New Orleans Pelicans. Oklahoma City point guard Russell Westbrook leads the league with a 30.9 average while Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis is close behind at 29.6.
Westbrook poured in 46 points - his second-best output of the campaign - in Monday's 110-108 loss to the Atlanta Hawks while topping 20 points for the 10th consecutive time. He wasn't the least bit thrilled by his performance as it came in Oklahoma City's fourth loss in the past six games - "no moral victories around here, buddy," Westbrook told reporters. Davis recorded 31 points and 16 rebounds to lead New Orleans to a 108-93 road win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday. The victory was just the Pelicans' third in 11 games this month as they struggle through their second straight sub-par season.
TV: 8 p.m. FSN Oklahoma, FSN New Orleans
ABOUT THE THUNDER (16-12): Westbrook often carries the entire load for Oklahoma City but his 46-point performance camouflaged a couple solid performances from two of his teammates. Forward Jerami Grant contributed a season-best 15 points and hit all three of this 3-point attempts while defensive-minded forward Andre Roberson matched his season best of 14 points and hoisted a career-high 14 field-goal attempts. "I'm just letting it fly, to be honest with you," Roberson told reporters. "It wasn't falling for me early, but I stuck with it, and the team needed me to keep shooting, so that's what I was doing. I just go out there and do anything I can."
ABOUT THE PELICANS (10-20): Davis missed eight of his first nine shots as it looked like his funk from the previous two games - a total of 31 points and nine rebounds - was going to continue but he noticed how the Philadelphia defense was playing him and began attacking. "My jump shot wasn't on, so I started going to the rim," Davis said afterward. "You just adjust to the game. I wasn't going to keep settling. I just had to attack, and that's it." Backup forward Terrence Jones will be looking to follow up one of his top performances of the season after he had 17 points and 10 rebounds against the 76ers.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Thunder have won four of the past six meetings.
2. Oklahoma City SG Victor Oladipo (wrist) is expected to miss his fifth consecutive game.
3. New Orleans G Tyreke Evans (knee) sat out Tuesday but will play against the Thunder.