Preview: New Orleans At Utah
When: 9:00 PM ET, Saturday, November 28, 2015
Where: Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah
New Orleans star Anthony Davis is in jeopardy of sitting out with a knee injury when the Pelicans visit the Utah Jazz on Saturday. Davis suffered a bruised right knee during a controversial play in Friday’s 111-90 road loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Davis was injured near midcourt when Clippers point guard Chris Paul was dribbling and appeared to veer into Davis and the collision sent Davis sprawling to the floor in the pain. He had to be carried to the locker room by two teammates while other New Orleans players and assistant coach Robert Pack were vehemently upset at Paul. Utah forward Gordon Hayward is coming off his best outing of the season as he scored a season-high 33 points in Wednesday’s 102-91 road victory against the Clippers. The Jazz topped 100 points for the second time all season and look to get on a run with their next four games and six of seven at home.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, FSN New Orleans, ROOT (Utah)
ABOUT THE PELICANS (4-12): Davis operated at will in his two appearances against Utah last season as he averaged 37 points and 11.5 rebounds, including one outing in which he scored a career-best 43 points. New Orleans had a three-game winning streak halted against the Clippers and whether the club will have to play without Davis on Saturday should be known by the mid-day shootaround. “It’s part of the NBA. He’s hurt and we’ll see where it goes,” Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said afterward. “If he doesn’t play, then we’ll put somebody else in and they’ll have to step up. That’s what it is.”
ABOUT THE JAZZ (7-7): Hayward got off to a sluggish start but has found his stride and is averaging 22.8 points over the past four games. He had three stellar efforts against New Orleans last season — averages of 26.7 points, six rebounds and 5.3 assists — and could be in line for another one after ending his early-season struggles. “I’m sorry for laughing at that question,” Utah coach Quin Snyder said when fielding one about Hayward’s struggles. “But any criticism in Gordon’s direction has simply been misplaced.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Pelicans have won four of the past six meetings.
2. New Orleans G Tyreke Evans (knee) continues to be held out but might make his season debut against the Jazz.
3. SG Rodney Hood (back) and backup PG Trey Burke (back) are questionable for Saturday’s game.
PREDICTION: Jazz 96, Pelicans 92