Pelicans at Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are struggling to put together a 48-minute effort at both ends of the court and look to begin turning things around when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. The Pistons have dropped three games in a row, including a 113-109 setback at Boston on Monday in which they allowed Isaiah Thomas to score 24 points in the fourth quarter.
Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy told reporters he did not do a good job coaching in the final 12 minutes of that contest, failing to find the answers to containing Thomas as his team was scoring 39 points. “We’ve just got to stay strong and stay positive and, hopefully sooner or later, we are going to have a full-package game,” Pistons forward Tobias Harris told reporters. The Pelicans are coming off a heartbreaking 108-106 overtime loss at Toronto on Tuesday despite receiving 30 points from Jrue Holiday and leading by 14 at halftime. Anthony Davis notched his 30th double-double of the season in the contest for New Orleans, which has won only six of its 22 road contests.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN New Orleans, FSN Detroit
ABOUT THE PELICANS (19-30): Holiday continues to shine for New Orleans, posting three double-doubles and averaging 25.2 points, 8.6 assists and 2.4 steals while shooting almost 60 percent over his last five contests. Holiday received some support in the backcourt Tuesday as E’Twaun Moore scored 17 points off the bench and rookie Buddy Hield added 15. Tyreke Evans should be back in the lineup after being rested on Tuesday, but Dante Cunningham suffered a wrist injury early in the contest at Toronto and did not return.
ABOUT THE PISTONS (21-27): Andre Drummond (14.6 points, league-high 13.8 rebounds) has hit double digits in rebounds in 10 straight contests and recorded 22 while scoring 28 points in the loss to Boston. “I really liked his effort (Monday),” Van Gundy told reporters. “If he continues to play like that, we’re going to have a chance to turn this around.” Drummond is just one of five players averaging at least 13.7 points as Reggie Jackson (17 points, 5.5 assists) leads the way despite a 12-point effort against Boston while Harris (16.7 points) is second on the team.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Pelicans have won eight consecutive meetings, including a 111-106 triumph at Detroit last February.
2. Detroit F Jon Leuer (10.8 points) suffered a laceration on his forehead Monday and he is questionable to face New Orleans.
3. Davis is averaging 28.7 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 55.6 percent in six career games against the Pistons.