New Orleans hasn't been very good this season, but they're even worse when Anthony Davis doesn't play.
The Pelicans' All-Star missed Sunday's game with a sore back, dropping them to 0-4 when he doesn't play, and he's questionable against the Lakers in what is a battle between the two worst teams in the Western Conference.
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SCHEDULING
The Pelicans three-game road trip got off to a bad start when superstar Davis was inactive Sunday against the Clippers due to a lower back issue. Despite not having their leader in points, rebounds, steals and blocks, the Pelicans took the Clippers to overtime before succumbing 114-111 in the extra session. The team will hang out in LA before taking the same Staples Center hardwood Tuesday to face the Lakers in a meeting of the two worst teams in the Western Conference. At 4-16, New Orleans is tied with the Lakers and Phoenix with the fewest road wins in the West, though two of those victories have come in the last five away games where they've gone 3-2 ATS.
With just four wins at Staples Center, the Lakers have more home wins than only Philadelphia in the NBA, and view this game as a chance to break a four-game losing streak in advance of their trip to Golden State on Thursday.
INJURIES
Davis didn't play Sunday against the Clippers because he is still experiencing pain in his lower back. The Pelicans' star suffered a bruise on his lower back Friday after diving into the stands to save a loose ball. He will continue to get treatment in hopes of playing against the Lakers on Tuesday.
The Lakers were down a couple of guards for Sunday's loss to Utah with Kobe Bryant scratched because of a strained right Achilles tendon. Bryant had started the previous two games scoring a combined 47 points. D'Angelo Russell sat out because of a sprained ankle that occurred Thursday at Sacramento and limited him to eight minutes Friday against Oklahoma City. Both are questionable to play against the Pelicans.
KEY MATCHUP
It's been a struggle for the Lakers to find much consistency with an assortment of injuries and a revolving door to the starting lineup. While the team's lottery picks from the past two seasons are the cornerstones for the rebuilding franchise, a well-traveled sixth man has made quite a splash since being inserted into the starting two-guard spot. Since taking over in the middle of last month, Lou Williams is averaging 17 points per game on 45 percent shooting, but he's elevated his play of late. So far in January, Williams is averaging 24.3 points, good for seventh in the league this month. He's also had two of the best performances of his career in the last six games, going for 30 points with 10 assists in a blowout win over Phoenix and torching the Thunder with a 44-point game, including a 30-point eruption in the second half when he scored 23 of the team's 28 points in the fourth quarter. In effect, Williams has become the Lakers' first true nightly scoring threat since Bryant's golden days. And with Kobe and Russell questionable to play, he will be their only option on Tuesday.
ODDS AND PREDICTION
Playing without their superstar, the Pels took the Clippers to overtime on Sunday, but like 16 other times on the road this season they came away with a loss. The Pelicans were simply outmanned by the Clips but they gave an effort praised by coach Alvin Gentry. That same kind of work against the Lakers likely results in a win, and if Davis is able to overcome the back soreness and play Tuesday, he is what gets New Orleans the victory. It won't help the Lakers that they could possibly be without Kobe and Russell, who both have leg injuries, taking a good chunk of offense with them. They both sat out Sunday's game with Utah and the rest of the squad produced a season-low 74 points. With plenty of offense likely missing and both teams playing below the total regularly, a wager on the under has some value.
New Orleans 94, Los Angeles 87
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