* Today on NBA League Pass: Jazz vs. Pelicans (4 ET)
How much longer can the Pelicans survive without Anthony Davis? Well, for their sake, they’d rather not know.
Davis is mending from an ankle sprain but will return today against the Utah Jazz, which is great news for New Orleans after the team looked lost without Davis in their loss to the Wizards on Friday.
Davis used the last few weeks to catapult himself into the Kia MVP discussion by going on a tear on both ends of the floor.
Anthony Davis will play today #DoItBIG
3 pm CT on @FOXSportsNOLA pic.twitter.com/iS08jBlJL2
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 11, 2018
Since losing DeMarcus Cousins for the season on Jan. 26, Davis has averaged over 32 points and almost 13 rebounds a game. Just as important, the Pelicans went on a tear themselves and rose to No. 4 in the West standings helped by a 10-game winning streak.
There’s a fine line between a firm playoff berth and another lottery appearance, because only three games separate the No. 4 spot from the No. 9 spot here in the stretch run of a tight race for post-season berths. Here’s the Pelicans report from Fox Sports:
Davis sat out the Pelicans’ loss to the Wizards with a sprained left ankle, but went through a limited practice Saturday. He seemed satisfied he could play Sunday against the Jazz, who have won 10 consecutive road games and 17 of their last 19 games overall.
“I did some light stuff today,” Davis said after the workout. “Will do some more stuff tomorrow, but it feels a lot better.”
During their 10-game winning streak, the Pelicans scored at least 114 points in every game.
Gentry laughed Saturday when asked what it was like for the Pelicans to play without Davis in the lineup.
“Just think Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, with him not on the (field),” Gentry said. “I think that would be a good comparison. He opens up the game for everyone, really.”
* * *
