Lakers-Pelicans Preview

By KEVIN CHROUST

(AP) -- The Los Angeles Lakers are on the verge of their longest losing streak of the season, and their last three matchups with the New Orleans Pelicans have been defensive disasters.

Wednesday night might be different if Anthony Davis misses a fourth straight game when the last-place teams meet in New Orleans - though there's no guarantee the Lakers' star will suit up either.

Davis is day to day with a sprained left toe. He missed the final three games of a five-game trip, on which the Pelicans (20-21) went 2-3 with bad losses to Boston, Philadelphia and New York separated by wins over Detroit and Toronto.

Monday's 99-92 defeat to the Knicks dropped the Pelicans to 1-3 without Davis, and they've been limited to 89.3 points and 42.7 percent shooting during his current absence.

Ryan Anderson has started in his place and shot 23.1 percent. He went 4 of 17 against New York.

Tyreke Evans had a team-high 23 points a game after scoring 26, while Omer Asik added 11 and 17 rebounds.

New Orleans' 13 assists were one more than its season low, and the club has averaged 16.3 in the last three games for an even assist-to-turnover ratio and minus-6.6 turnover differential.

"It's always disappointing. We know what we're capable of as a team," said guard Eric Gordon, who had 20 points. "We didn't have that many assists tonight, like 13 or so. The ball wasn't moving as much as it should. We definitely wanted this game after what we did (Sunday's 95-93 win in Toronto)."

The one area New Orleans has excelled without Davis is rebounding with 48.7 per game and a differential of plus-12.0.

The Lakers (12-30) have been passable in that category during their second five-game losing streak of the season, but 44 turnovers in the last two games have canceled out any positives. Monday's 115-100 defeat to Phoenix gave them a four-game road skid, tying a season high.

"Turnovers," coach Byron Scott said. "We had eight at halftime and we finished with 23. You're not going to win a whole lot of games with 23 turnovers."

Nick Young had 24 points one game after scoring 23 in Friday's 94-85 loss in Utah. His shot has come around, as he's made 52.4 percent in those games after hitting 25.0 percent in his previous seven.

Kobe Bryant sat out for the eighth time in 15 games, and Los Angeles fell to 2-6 on days he's rested. His status remains uncertain.

"He feels much better," Scott said Tuesday. "I asked him about Wednesday, and he said he thought that he would be ready for Wednesday as well as Friday, but I don't want to jump the gun."

Point guard Ronnie Price is questionable after missing the last two games with an elbow injury. Power forward Carlos Boozer is dealing with a left triceps contusion but is probable.

Reserve center Tarik Black is expected to miss the game after suffering an ankle injury against the Suns.

The Pelicans have won three straight over the Lakers for the first time in franchise history while averaging 115.0 points and shooting 55.4 percent and 42.6 percent from 3-point range.

Davis has averaged 25.3 points, 11.0 rebounds and 70.2 percent shooting in those contests. Bryant scored 33 points and was 5 of 11 from beyond the arc in a 109-102 defeat at New Orleans on Nov. 12, but went 6 for 18 from the field - 0 for 5 on 3s - and finished with 14 points in a 104-87 home loss to the Pelicans on Dec. 7.