LOS ANGELES – For basketball fans tuning in to watch tonight’s Western Conference matchup in Louisiana or nationally via NBA TV, it was a good news/bad news situation during pregame at Staples Center. Unfortunately for New Orleans (11-25), it fell on the negative side of that ledger.
During separate pregame media sessions Tuesday, Lakers Coach Byron Scott told reporters that Kobe Bryant will be in uniform for Los Angeles, after the Hall of Fame lock missed Sunday’s home game vs. Utah. However, Pelicans Coach Alvin Gentry informed the media that Anthony Davis (back contusion) will be sidelined for the second time on his team’s current three-game road trip, which concludes Wednesday at Sacramento.
“Maybe if it was a playoff game, we’d stick him out there,” Gentry said of Davis not playing tonight. “But I just don’t see a reason to risk anything, or for him to try to overcompensate for something. We’ll just see what happens tomorrow night (in terms of Davis’ status against the Kings).”
Other notes from pregame:
Gentry on Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans, who combined to score 55 points in Sunday’s overtime loss to the Clippers: “I think Jrue is playing really, really good basketball. I think Tyreke is really starting to understand what we want to get out of him and how we like to play. We just have to continue to try to get better.” …
Gentry on Kobe: “What he’s done for the game is phenomenal. Every year young player (should) look at his competitiveness, how his game has evolved every year. His desire to be the best player in the game just comes through. He leaves a great legacy in this game.”
