After a semi-dissapointing 2-2 week the New Orleans Pelicans get back to action tonight against one of the teams that they were able to beat in that four game stretch when the Sacramento Kings visit New Orleans. the game brings another matchup between the two best young big men in basketball and two early season MVP candidates in DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis and provides the first glimpse of what life will be like without Eric Gordon, who is out indefinitely with a torn labrum.
New Orleans will now look to Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans to shoulder more of the offensive load around Anthony Davis with Gordon out. That starts tonight in a game that should provide plenty of opportunities for Holiday against Darren Collison. Holiday will have a decided size advantage against the six-foot ball Kings guard and with hopefully a newfound aggression take advantage. Davis meanwhile will look to replicate his dominant performance from last week to help New Orleans defeat a tough Kings team.
Sacramento has cooled off a bit since their hot start but the Kings are still dangerous. Cousins leads them in everything they do and that should continue tonight as the Pelicans wait and see if Omer Asik will play. Around Cousins is where the big difference has been with the Kings this year. Collison and second year shooting guard Ben McLemore are both having very nice years and Rudy Gay has continued to be a nice fit since the Kings acquired him. Cousins bullied the Pelicans at times last week without Asik, if he can’t play again things could look very similar.
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Where and where: The game will be played at 7 pm CT at the Smoothie King Center.
How to watch: The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports New Orleans.
Injury report:
New Orleans: Omer Asik is questionable with a sore lower back. Eric Gordon is out with a torn labrum.
Sacramento: DeMarcus Cousins is probable with a hip flexor injury. Rudy Gay is probable with an Achilles injury. Jason Thompson is probable with a quadriceps injury.
Probable starting lineups:
New Orleans: PG Jrue Holiday, SG Austin Rivers, SF Tyreke Evans, PF Anthony Davis, C Omer Asik
Sacramento: PG Darren Collison, SG Ben McLemore, SF Rudy Gay, PF Jason Thompson, C DeMarcus Cousins
Other players to watch:
New Orleans: Ryan Anderson
Sacramento: Reggie Evans, Ramon Sessions, Carl Landry
What to watch for:
Who defends McLemore?
Ben McLemore has gotten off to a very hot start shooting the ball this season and the Kings offense has benefited greatly. With the threat of a three to worry about defenses haven’t been able to help on Cousins in the post as easily which allows him more open space to dominate. With Gordon out it is assumed Austin Rivers will step into the starting lineup at shooting guard which could be problematic for New Orleans. If McLemore gets hot early by just shooting over the top of the smaller Rivers don’t be surprised to see Holiday end up shifted to defending the Kings young shooter.
Asik or no?
If Omer Asik plays the task of defending DeMarcus Cousins gets much easier for the Pelicans. Asik is one of the few people in the league capable of defending Cousins one-on-one in the post thanks to his strength and athleticism. Without Asik the Pelicans will rely on Alexis Ajinca to defend Cousins which could be problematic with the rate that Ajinca fouls at.
Who scores for the Pelicans bench?
With Austin Rivers moving into the starting lineup to replace Gordon the Pelicans are left with one good NBA player on the bench in Ryan Anderson. The Pelicans bench was already struggling to score the ball so now they have to find a way without the best creater on the unit around. Expect to see Tyreke Evans play with the bench more often and Jimmer Freddette to be unchained from the bench but it remains to be see if either will work.