New Orleans Pelicans Blog – Page 36 – NBA Blog

Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis named NBA Players of Week through March 15

Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis named NBA Players of Week

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving and New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, March 9, through Sunday, March 15.

Irving helped the Cavaliers to a 3-0 week behind a league-best 37.3 points. The fourth-year guard added 4.7 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 steals as the Cavaliers posted road victories over the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs and Orlando Magic. Irving led the league in three-point percentage (.867) last week. He recorded his second 50-point game of the season on March 12, when he netted a career-high 57 points during a 128-125 overtime win over the Spurs.

Davis led the Pelicans to a 2-1 week, with averages of 31.3 points (second in the league), 10.0 rebounds (tied-10th in the West), 6.0 assists and a league-leading 4.7 blocks. Davis posted two point-rebound double-doubles and handed out five or more assists in all three games. He tallied 36 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and nine blocks during the Pelicans’ lone loss of the week, a 118-111 double-overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets on March 15.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Denver’s Kenneth Faried, Indiana’s Rodney Stuckey, the Los Angeles Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook, Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker, Utah’s Rudy Gobert and Washington’s John Wall.

Pelicans sign Elliot Williams to second 10-day contract

Pelicans sign Elliot Williams to second 10-day contract

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has signed guard Elliot Williams to a second 10-day contract.

Williams, 6-5,180 has appeared in three games with the Pelicans, averaging 4.0 points, 1.0 assists and 1.0 rebounds in 11.0 minutes per game.

Prior to joining New Orleans, Williams played for the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League. Appearing in 25 games for Santa Cruz, Williams averaged 21.8 points, 7.6 assists and 4.5 rebounds in 36.8 minutes per game while being named a NBA D-League All-Star. Williams had signed 10-day contracts with Utah and Charlotte earlier this season, appearing in five games for Utah, averaging 3.6 points in 8.4 minutes per contest.

Selected by Portland with the 22nd overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft out of Memphis, Williams has appeared in 99 career games, averaging 5.3 points and 1.6 rebounds in 13.9 minutes per game.

Anthony Davis is ridiculously talented

Anthony Davis is ridiculously talented

Here’s the New Orleans Times-Picayune reporting on Pelicans star Anthony Davis, who is an amazingly high-level basketball talent:

Right now, just a few days shy of his 22nd birthday, Davis’ skill set represents arguably the perfect package of basketball ability, certainly as complete as the NBA has seen in its nearly 70 year history.

His stat line in last Wednesday night’s win over the Detroit Pistons, having not played in 10 days, was historic though overshadowed by the play of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, who notched his fourth consecutive triple-double in an overtime victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Davis’ 39 points, 13 rebounds and eight blocks represented only the third time in league history a player accumulated numbers such as those.

Hakeem Olajuwon and Dwight Howard were the others.

Pelicans sign Elliot Williams to 10-day contract

Pelicans sign Elliot Williams to 10-day contract

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has signed guard Elliot Williams to a 10-day contract.

Williams won’t be expected to do much more than provide some backcourt depth while playing very limited minutes. Generally the same situation for most players on a 10-day deal.

Williams, 6-5,180 has most recently played for the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League. Appearing in 25 games for Santa Cruz, Williams has averaged 21.8 points, 7.6 assists and 4.5 rebounds in 36.8 minutes per game while being named a NBA D-League All-Star. Previously this season, Williams has signed 10-day contracts with Utah and Charlotte. Williams appeared in five games for Utah, averaging 3.6 points in 8.4 minutes per contest.

Selected by Portland with the 22nd overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft out of Memphis, Williams has appeared in 96 career games with Portland and Philadelphia in addition to Utah, averaging 5.3 points and 1.6 rebounds in 14.0 minutes per game.

Williams will be available for tonight’s game against Detroit at the Smoothie King Center. New Orleans’ roster now stands at 14.

Anthony Davis out 1-2 weeks with right shoulder sprain

Anthony Davis out 1-2 weeks with right shoulder sprain

Anthony Davis out 1-2 weeks with shoulder sprain

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that forward Anthony Davis has been diagnosed with a right shoulder sprain. An MRI conducted by the team’s medical staff this morning confirmed the right shoulder sprain. The injury occurred at the 3:38 mark of the first quarter in last night’s game against the Miami HEAT. He is expected to miss 1-2 weeks.

Additionally, Ryan Anderson underwent an MRI this morning and has been diagnosed with an MCL sprain in his right knee. The injury took place at the 9:41 mark during the second quarter of last night’s game against the Miami HEAT. He is expected to miss 2-4 weeks.

Pelicans waive Shawne Williams

New Orleans Pelicans waive Shawne Williams

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has waived forward Shawne Williams, who was acquired Feb. 19 from the Miami HEAT along with Norris Cole and Justin Hamilton as part of a three-team trade.

Williams, 6-9, 230, has appeared in 44 games (22 starts) this season for Miami, averaging 6.6 points and 3.2 rebounds in 21.0 minutes per game. Originally the 17th overall selection out of Memphis in the 2006 NBA Draft by Indiana, Williams has appeared in 295 career NBA games, averaging 5.8 points and 3.1 rebounds in 17.6 minutes per game.

New Orleans’ roster now stands at 14.

Jrue Holiday out at least three more weeks with leg injury

Jrue Holiday out at least three more weeks with leg injury

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that guard Jrue Holiday re-aggravated the stress reaction in his lower right leg on Monday. He will be re-evaluated in three weeks by the team’s medical staff. A timetable for his return will be announced at a later date as more information is available.

Holiday has missed the previous 16 games with the injury. In 37 games this season, Holiday averaged 15.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 33.7 minutes per game. The 6-4 guard holds career averages of 13.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 369 contests.

Pelicans sign Toney Douglas to second 10-day contract

Pelicans sign Toney Douglas to second 10-day contract

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has signed guard Toney Douglas to a second 10-day contract.

Douglas, 6-2, 185, has appeared in three games for New Orleans, averaging 9.0 points, 4.0 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 22.0 minutes per game. Prior to joining the Pelicans, Douglas played for the Jiangsu Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association, appearing in 35 games while averaging 19.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.1 steals. Drafted 29th overall out of Florida State in 2009 by the Los Angeles Lakers, Douglas had appeared in 297 career NBA games with New York, Houston, Sacramento, Golden State and Miami, averaging 7.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists.

Anthony Davis injured, will not play in 2015 NBA All-Star game

Anthony Davis injured, will not play in 2015 NBA All-Star game

New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis, who is recovering from a right shoulder sprain, released the following statement:

“After careful thought and consideration, I’ve decided I will not be participating in this year’s NBA All-Star competitions. I want to thank the fans for voting me into the All-Star game and I am sorry I will not be able to play.

While I’m disappointed that I won’t be able to compete this weekend, I’m still very excited about the opportunity to be a part of the All-Star events in New York and celebrate our game with some of the NBA’s greatest figures.

More than anything, I am anxious to get healthy and back on the court with my teammates after the All-Star break.”

Pelicans sign Nate Wolters to second 10-day contract

Pelicans sign Nate Wolters to second 10-day contract

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed guard Nate Wolters to a second 10-day contract.

Wolters, 6-4, 190, South Dakota State, first signed with the Pelicans on January 14. In five games with New Orleans, Wolters has averaged 2.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 11 minutes per contest.

Wolters was the 38th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards before his rights were dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers, and then the Milwaukee Bucks. Appearing in 69 games with Milwaukee, Wolters averaged 6.4 points, 2.9 assists and 2.4 rebounds.