Here is what you need to know before the Lakers begin their road trip against the New Orleans Pelicans.
1) The Lakers are coming off arguably their most exciting win of the season. Los Angeles let a 16-point lead over Minnesota slip away on Tuesday, but Kobe Bryant came to the rescue. He poured in a season-high 38 points, in part by drilling eight 3-pointers, and splashed three clutch shots to push the Lakers to victory.
2) That last game also featured a duel between the retiring Bryant and budding star Andrew Wiggins, who modeled some of his game after the Lakers legend. At one point, Wiggins even hit a fadeaway over Bryant and said, “I got that from you.”
3) The Lakers and Pelicans met just three weeks ago, and L.A. snapped a franchise-long five game losing streak to New Orleans. In the final minute, Julius Randle collected an offensive rebound and then cashed in a finger roll for the go-ahead score.
4) In that last game, the Pelicans were without their superstar, Anthony Davis. He currently ranks in the league’s top 10 in scoring (23.0), rebounds (10.3) and blocks (2.4). Davis — who is second in swats — was recently named to his third straight All-Star Game.
5) Though his team has struggled this season, Ryan Anderson has nonetheless provided a strong candidacy for Sixth Man of the Year. The Sacramento native leads all bench players in scoring (16.8) and 3-pointers (2.2), while piling up 30-plus points four times.
6) Right behind Anderson in reserve scoring is Jrue Holiday (16.1). The former all-star has looked like his old self in four of the Pelicans’ last five games. He poured in 20 points or more in that quartet of appearances, including one 32-point outburst. Strangely, he shot just 1-of-14 in the one game that he didn’t reach 20 on Monday.
7) With players like Anderson and Holiday providing buckets, the Pelicans lean on their bench more than any other team. Their reserves pour in a league-high 42.5 points per game.
8) New Orleans will likely be shorthanded in its meeting with the Lakers, as Tyreke Evans (right knee) and Eric Gordon (fractured finger) missed Wednesday’s game against San Antonio. Injuries have been a theme for the Pelicans, who have used 22 different starting lineups this year.
9) New Orleans loves to attack the basket, and is efficient at doing so. The Pelicans average the league’s fourth-most drives (31.1) and score the second-most points off of those trips to the hoop (19.9).
10) This game serves as a bit of a homecoming for head coach Byron Scott, who guided the New Orleans Hornets from 2004-09. Likewise, assistant Paul Pressey was a member of Scott’s staff at the time.
Paul Pressey (left) and Byron Scott coach New Orlean’s James Posey during a game against Golden State on Jan. 30, 2009.
