Legends66NBA7
02-23-2015, 08:43 PM
Game Preview: http://mi.nba.com/preview/#!/0021400833
The*New Orleans Pelicans' postseason hopes took a hit with their recent losing streak. They could have an even tougher time recovering from their latest personnel losses.
After learning*Anthony Davis*will be sidelined for up to two weeks andRyan Anderson*for longer, the Pelicans try to end their longest home losing streak in more than a year Monday night against the Atlantic Division-leading*Toronto Raptors.
Davis missed two games prior to the break and had to sit out the All-Star Game with a right shoulder sprain. He struggled in his return with 13 points -- well below his 23.9 average -- and 5-of-15 shooting in Friday's 95-84 defeat at Orlando.
The MVP candidate then went 2 of 8 before leaving Saturday's 105-91 victory at Miami in the first quarter after aggravating the injury. The Pelicans announced Davis' timetable for a return Sunday.
"He's more frustrated about not being there for his team," coach Monty Williams said. "It says a lot about him. Injuries are a part of the game. We've dealt with so many things. Guys got to step up. We have a lot of work to do."
New Orleans (28-27) was one game out of the final Western Conference postseason spot following a 3-1 stretch Jan. 30-Feb. 6, highlighted by wins over the*Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta and Oklahoma City.
The Pelicans, however, dropped the next four -- including two home games without Davis -- before ending their worst skid of the season Saturday. They're 2-5 this season when Davis doesn't play.
New Orleans has also lost four in a row at home for its longest such slide since dropping six straight last January.
Making matters worse, Anderson is expected to miss up to four weeks with a right knee sprain after his leg buckled in the second quarter against the Heat. The forward is averaging 14.6 points.
One of the Pelicans' victories without Davis came in Toronto on Jan. 18.Tyreke Evans*had 26 points and hit the go-ahead layup with 1.6 seconds left and Alexis Aijinca scored a career-high 22 in a 95-93 win.
Evans has played well against Toronto, scoring 23.8 per game in five matchups dating to his time with Sacramento.
Eric Gordon*scored 24 on Saturday and has averaged 19.2 points while playing in six of the games Davis has missed.
The Raptors (37-18), owners of the East's second-best record, look to regroup after a four-game winning streak and five-game road run was snapped Saturday in their worst defeat of the season, 98-76 to Houston.
James Johnson*had a career-high 27 points but*Kyle Lowry*and*DeMar DeRozan*combined for 21 while going 6 of 27. Toronto shot 32.5 percent and committed a season-high 25 turnovers.
The Raptors could be getting some help with Lou Williams probable to return after missing one game due to a sprained left ankle. The reserve guard had totaled 53 points and made 11 3-pointers in his previous two games.
"He's definitely a big key coming in and changing the dynamics of the game," DeRozan, who has scored 30 or more in his last two visits to New Orleans, told the team's official website.
The Pelicans ended a six-game losing streak in this series with the win at Toronto last month.
The*New Orleans Pelicans' postseason hopes took a hit with their recent losing streak. They could have an even tougher time recovering from their latest personnel losses.
After learning*Anthony Davis*will be sidelined for up to two weeks andRyan Anderson*for longer, the Pelicans try to end their longest home losing streak in more than a year Monday night against the Atlantic Division-leading*Toronto Raptors.
Davis missed two games prior to the break and had to sit out the All-Star Game with a right shoulder sprain. He struggled in his return with 13 points -- well below his 23.9 average -- and 5-of-15 shooting in Friday's 95-84 defeat at Orlando.
The MVP candidate then went 2 of 8 before leaving Saturday's 105-91 victory at Miami in the first quarter after aggravating the injury. The Pelicans announced Davis' timetable for a return Sunday.
"He's more frustrated about not being there for his team," coach Monty Williams said. "It says a lot about him. Injuries are a part of the game. We've dealt with so many things. Guys got to step up. We have a lot of work to do."
New Orleans (28-27) was one game out of the final Western Conference postseason spot following a 3-1 stretch Jan. 30-Feb. 6, highlighted by wins over the*Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta and Oklahoma City.
The Pelicans, however, dropped the next four -- including two home games without Davis -- before ending their worst skid of the season Saturday. They're 2-5 this season when Davis doesn't play.
New Orleans has also lost four in a row at home for its longest such slide since dropping six straight last January.
Making matters worse, Anderson is expected to miss up to four weeks with a right knee sprain after his leg buckled in the second quarter against the Heat. The forward is averaging 14.6 points.
One of the Pelicans' victories without Davis came in Toronto on Jan. 18.Tyreke Evans*had 26 points and hit the go-ahead layup with 1.6 seconds left and Alexis Aijinca scored a career-high 22 in a 95-93 win.
Evans has played well against Toronto, scoring 23.8 per game in five matchups dating to his time with Sacramento.
Eric Gordon*scored 24 on Saturday and has averaged 19.2 points while playing in six of the games Davis has missed.
The Raptors (37-18), owners of the East's second-best record, look to regroup after a four-game winning streak and five-game road run was snapped Saturday in their worst defeat of the season, 98-76 to Houston.
James Johnson*had a career-high 27 points but*Kyle Lowry*and*DeMar DeRozan*combined for 21 while going 6 of 27. Toronto shot 32.5 percent and committed a season-high 25 turnovers.
The Raptors could be getting some help with Lou Williams probable to return after missing one game due to a sprained left ankle. The reserve guard had totaled 53 points and made 11 3-pointers in his previous two games.
"He's definitely a big key coming in and changing the dynamics of the game," DeRozan, who has scored 30 or more in his last two visits to New Orleans, told the team's official website.
The Pelicans ended a six-game losing streak in this series with the win at Toronto last month.