Pelicans at Spurs
DeMar DeRozan knows it's an ongoing process getting used to a new team and a new system, but he's making the transition look seamless. DeRozan will try to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a fourth consecutive victory when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday.
DeRozan is averaging team highs of 27.9 points and 7.3 assists and is 36-of-56 from the floor during the three-game winning streak. "There's a lot we need to do, still a lot of things we need to tighten up," DeRozan told reporters. "We're in a great position, for everything being so new. So many new guys and every single day learning something new. As long as we continue to grow every single game, every single practice, we're going to be fine." The Pelicans come into the weekend in a slump after dropping their last four games while surrendering an average of 127.8 points. "We’ve gotta get guys off the line," New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters after a 132-119 loss at Portland on Thursday. "You know, the point differential is 30 points from the 3-point line, I mean, we dominate the paint, we shoot more free throws, but it’s really, really difficult to make up a 30-point deficit from 3, so we’ve gotta get them off the line and make a few more of our own."
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS New Orleans, FS Southwest (San Antonio)
ABOUT THE PELICANS (4-4): Three of the four losses came with superstar forward Anthony Davis sitting out to rest an elbow injury, and he is expected to be back in the lineup on Saturday. Power forward Julius Randle is trying to step up in Davis' absence and he broke out for a season-high 29 points on 9-of-16 shooting in 26 minutes at Portland. "I thought he played well, you know, that’s what we’ve grown accustomed to seeing because I think he’s very capable of that," Gentry told reporters of Randle. "... I thought he took the ball and was very aggressive with it. I thought he ran out and did some things in transition that were really good. As I said, we've gotta get everyone playing at that level."
ABOUT THE SPURS (5-2): DeRozan's quick ascent in the San Antonio system is overshadowing another solid start from power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who is averaging 20.6 points and 9.1 rebounds. Aldridge and DeRozan combined to go 20-of-25 from the floor in Wednesday's 120-90 win at Phoenix and the team managed to score all those points without Aldridge or DeRozan attempting a 3-pointer. The Spurs enter the weekend tied for last in the NBA at an average of 22.3 3-point attempts per game.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Pelicans PF Nikola Mirotic recorded a double-double in each of the last three games but is 6-of-24 from 3-point range in that span.
2. Spurs SF Rudy Gay scored in double figures in each of the first seven games.
3. New Orleans took three of the four meetings last season.