Pelicans-Clippers Preview
The New Orleans Pelicans appear to have overcome their early season struggles with a healthy Anthony Davis putting up big numbers.
Blake Griffin is doing the same, though it hasn't brought the Los Angeles Clippers out of their funk.
The resurgent Pelicans aim for a fourth straight win and the Clippers attempt to regain their previous form when the teams meet Friday night at Staples Center.
New Orleans (4-11) lost 11 of its first 12 while handcuffed by a host of key injuries, including a hip contusion that sidelined Davis for two games and a sore shoulder that kept him out of another. The All-Star forward has since returned with a flourish, recording three straight outings of at least 20 points and 17 rebounds.
"It's been a long time coming really," said coach Alvin Gentry, who also has been without starters Jrue Holiday and Omer Asik for stretches. "I think we're getting healthy and we're starting to figure it out a little bit."
Davis tallied 32 points and 19 boards in Sunday's 122-116 home victory over Phoenix, then scored 26 on 11-of-14 shooting with 17 rebounds Wednesday as the Pelicans beat the Suns again 120-114.
Eric Gordon scored 18 of his 23 points in the second half to help New Orleans overcome a 17-point deficit and earn their first road win of the season.
"We're playing for each other, playing together, sharing the ball," Davis said. "And when you do that and play hard, it's tough for a team to beat you."
Held under 99 points in eight of their first 11 games, the Pelicans are averaging 115.3 during the win streak behind Davis' return along with continued hot stretches by a pair of bench players.
Sixth man Ryan Anderson has averaged 26.6 points over the last five games while shooting 55.6 percent and hitting 16 3-pointers. Backup point guard Ish Smith is contributing 18.0 points and 9.5 assists per game over the previous four after amassing 20 points and 11 assists Wednesday.
Los Angeles (7-8) has been veering in the opposite direction. Despite Griffin's 40 points and 24 from Chris Paul, the Clippers lost for the eighth time in 11 outings with Wednesday's 102-91 defeat to Utah.
"We should be better than this," said Griffin, who finished 18 of 23 from the field. "It's frustrating. It's hard to pinpoint and say exactly what to do. We've got to stay together and not get too down."
Los Angeles received only 16 points from its reserves Wednesday, with sixth man Jamal Crawford held to a season-low three.
"We are at our best when we have a balanced attack and we didn't do that," Crawford said. "We didn't do our job."
The Clippers are 0-4 when Crawford fails to score in double figures and he's failed to do so twice in the past three games, a stretch in which he's 6 of 27 from the field.
Griffin comes in averaging career highs of 25.5 points and 55.1 percent shooting. He averaged 24.0 points as Los Angeles won two of three from New Orleans last season, and Paul added 21.7 per game along with 11.3 assists.
Davis scored 26 in each of the two matchups in which he played, but the Pelicans won the one he sat out.
They've lost five straight road games against the Clippers.