Timberwolves-Pelicans Preview

By JACK CASSIDY

(AP) -- New Orleans coach Monty Williams knows the Pelicans must play well against both perennial bottom feeders and title contenders to compete in the Western Conference.

That sentiment will certainly apply Friday night when the Pelicans host the struggling Minnesota Timberwolves.

"The West is unreal," Williams said. "This is the toughest the Western Conference has ever been, in my opinion. You're not going to have any cake walks in the Western Conference this year. You have to play for 48 minutes."

The Pelicans are starting to gain some credibility and earned a victory at defending champion San Antonio on Nov. 8. New Orleans (4-3) dispatched the Los Angeles Lakers 109-102 on Wednesday in their most recent contest.

Much of the team's success stems from a balanced roster that features Omer Asik, who has been a force on defense, blocking 1.4 shots per game and helping limit opponents to a 39.7 field goal percentage in the paint.

Tyreke Evans is averaging career bests with 7.1 assists and 6.9 rebounds (6.9), Ryan Anderson is shooting a career-high 42.6 percent from behind the arc and Jrue Holiday owns a 4.18 assist-to-turnover ratio - one of the best marks in the NBA.

Despite the well-rounded play, the attention rightfully drifts toward Anthony Davis.

"I try to stay away from all that," Davis said about the praise he's receiving this season. "Of course people are going to tell me, but I don't go looking for it or read it or anything like that. I got to make sure I stay in the gym and help the team win."

Davis leads most of the league in nearly every statistical category, ranking among the NBA's best with averages of 24.9 points, 12.9 rebounds, 4.4 blocks and 2.3 steals.

He reached at least 25 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks in a game for the third time this season Wednesday against the Lakers. Reaching those numbers again will make Davis the first player to do it on four occasions in a single season since 1999-2000 when Alonzo Mourning did it six times and Shaquille O'Neal fives times.

Minnesota (2-5) may wind up watching Davis leave an impression not just on the box score, but also on fellow top draft picks Andrew Wiggins (2014) and Anthony Bennett ('13).

Wiggins has started all seven games and is averaging 10.0 points and 3.1 rebounds, while Bennett is scoring 5.5 per game in limited minutes.

With Ricky Rubio out indefinitely due to an ankle sprain, the Wolves have leaned on rookie Zach LaVine, who had eight points, nine assists and three turnovers in Wednesday's 113-101 home loss to Houston - their third straight loss.

"We're just going through the process," coach Flip Saunders said. "We're going to be a good team, some time. Whether it happens in the next week, two, or month, or year, we just have to keep going through the process, keep working to get better."

The Timberwolves would like to see more from Kevin Martin, who has slowed considerably from his hot start to November, managing 20 points combined in the last two contests.

Minnesota has lost eight of 11 in New Orleans. Martin shot 27.3 percent from the field in the Timberwolves' most recent road matchup with the Pelicans, who won 98-91 on Feb. 7.

The Wolves are 0-5 when allowing 100 or more points this season, which the Pelicans have reached in six of their seven games.