Pelicans-Jazz Preview
It's quite literally been a painful season to date for the New Orleans Pelicans, who had to watch their star get carried off the floor in their latest bout with adversity.
Anthony Davis sat out the last time New Orleans faced the Jazz, and that might be the case again Saturday night in Utah.
Davis averaged 26 points and 14.7 rebounds while guiding the Pelicans (4-12) to three straight wins before having 17 points when he suffered a right knee injury colliding with Chris Paul with less than three minutes left in the third quarter of Friday's 111-90 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
He's already missed three games and left two others previously with shoulder and hip injuries. Reports said there is no structural damage to his knee, and Davis eventually returned to the bench.
Davis' latest setback could cause more problems for coach Alvin Gentry, who has used 11 different starting lineups. Tyreke Evans (recovering from arthroscopic right knee surgery), Norris Cole (left ankle sprain) and Quincy Pondexter (left knee) haven't played this season, and big man Kendrick Perkins has sat out the last 13 because of a right pectoral issue.
Eric Gordon, who scored 16 points, is the only player to start each game. Ish Smith played 38 minutes off the bench with Jrue Holiday in foul trouble for the Pelicans, who shot just 36.2 percent.
''I've got to be on the floor. We have a lot of guys hurt. I can't afford to go down,'' Davis said.
Gentry nor Davis would comment on the play during which Davis was hurt. Gentry also said it wouldn't have been "worth the risk" to put Davis on the floor in the fourth quarter if the game was closer and if Davis said he could play.
"We'll know more tomorrow, so we'll see," Gentry said.
Gordon had 31 points as Davis sat out with a right shoulder sprain in New Orleans' 100-96 loss to Utah in the most recent meeting Feb. 9. Gordon Hayward scored 32 points in that contest for the Jazz (7-7), who are coming off one of their best efforts of the season.
Hayward had a season-high 33 points and Derrick Favors added 22 in Wednesday's 102-91 road win over the Clippers. Utah shot 50.6 percent from the field and went over 100 points for only the second time.
The Jazz had lost five of their previous seven.
"I was able to knock down some 3s, and when you see the ball go in the first quarter like that, it's a good feeling and it kind of gets you going a little bit," said Hayward, who went 11 of 22 from the field and hit 5 of 7 3-point attempts. ''It's one game, so I don't think you can take too much from it, but it's definitely a confidence booster for us as a team."
Rodney Hood scored 13 points in just over 30 minutes despite playing with a bad back that has caused him consistent pain. He went to the locker room once during each half to receive treatment.
Trey Burke experienced back spasms in the first quarter and didn't return.
''Rodney's a guy that when he's hurting, he's capable of pushing through it,'' coach Quin Snyder said. ''You want to be smart about it, but he felt like he wanted to be out there.''
Hayward is averaging 24.4 points in his last five against New Orleans.