Pelicans at Nets
Even after they were given some unexpected additional rest, the New Orleans Pelicans remained caught in a tailspin without DeMarcus Cousins. They will try to snap a three-game slide - tied for their longest this season - with a visit to the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night.
Two nights after a home game with Indiana was postponed due to a leaky roof at the Smoothie King Center, the Pelicans played their first game in four days Friday in Philadelphia but offered no resistance, falling behind by 18 points after one quarter and losing 100-82. "We're still in the process of trying to figure some things out," coach Alvin Gentry said after his team fell to 1-5 since the All-Star Cousins was lost for the season. "... You can't think that you can start off 20 behind and get back in it. They're just too talented." The Nets are beginning a three-game homestand heading into the All-Star break and looking to snap a four-game slide during which they've allowed an average of 112.3 points, including a 115-106 setback at Detroit on Wednesday. New Orleans and Brooklyn made a minor move prior to Thursday's trade deadline, with the Pelicans shipping veteran forward Dante Cunningham to Brooklyn in exchange for Rashad Vaughn, who had been with the Nets for less than a week following a trade with Milwaukee.
TV: 6 p.m. ET, FS New Orleans, YES (Brooklyn)
ABOUT THE PELICANS (28-26): Point guard DeAndre Liggins, signed Monday after earlier playing through a pair of 10-day contracts, was given his first start at Philadelphia as Gentry aimed to use regular starter Rajon Rondo to boost the ailing bench, but Liggins went scoreless in 19 minutes and was part of a unit that was blitzed to begin the game. "I don't know," Gentry said when asked if he would employ a similar tactic in Brooklyn. "That's something that I've got to think about tonight and evaluate it. I didn't like the start we got off to. It's something I'll have to think about tonight. I'll have to watch the game and really kind of see why we got off to such a bad start." Anthony Davis scored 14 points and Jrue Holiday added nine - both roughly half their season averages - in the Pelicans' worst offensive effort since they also scored 82 points on Jan. 2, 2017 at Cleveland.
ABOUT THE NETS (19-37): Allen Crabbe followed up a six-point performance in a loss to Houston on Tuesday with a career-high 34 points on 13-of-22 shooting against the Pistons. "That's the Allen we want," coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters. "Just more aggressive, more assertive, and if that means he's going to take a few bad shots a game, then we're OK with that." Forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who is second among active Nets players in scoring (14.3) and first in rebounding (6.5), has missed seven straight games due to a groin injury and was already ruled out for this one.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Davis had 33 points, 11 rebounds and six blocked shots in a 128-113 win over Brooklyn at home earlier this season.
2. Nets C Jarrett Allen is averaging 15.2 points on 66.1 percent shooting and 7.3 rebounds in six starts.
3. Pelicans PF Nikola Mirotic is averaging 11.7 points on 36.1 percent from the floor in three games since being traded from Chicago.