Pistons-Pelicans Preview

By JEFF MEZYDLO

(AP) -- With their longest winning stretch of the season now over, the New Orleans Pelicans can get back on track by continuing their success at home and against the Detroit Pistons.

The Pelicans can equal a season-high four-game home winning streak with a sixth straight victory over the Pistons on Wednesday night.

New Orleans' five-game run ended with Monday's 102-93 loss at Dallas. It led by three at halftime before shooting 26.3 percent while being outscored 25-13 during a decisive third quarter.

Though the Pelicans (32-28) dropped one game back of Oklahoma City for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, they remain confident going forward.

"We've had a really good (1 1/2 weeks) of basketball," said coach Monty Williams, whose team shot 47.3 percent despite the rough third period. "We've got to grow from this. This is part of the process. You're not going to win every game in the NBA. ... Now you get a chance to go home and hold service."

The Pelicans play three straight at home, where they're 20-10 and have shot 51.3 percent in winning the last three.

"We are definitely looking forward to going home," said guard Eric Gordon, who has averaged 18.7 points in the last three contests.

Though it's uncertain if star Anthony Davis will be available at any point during the home stretch, he's likely to miss a sixth straight contest with a sprained shoulder that's sidelined him seven of the last nine.

"We don't want to put a timetable on it because that puts pressure on," Williams said. "We know A.D. and where his heart is. When he can play, he'll be the first to tell us."

New Orleans also remains without point guard Jrue Holiday (leg) and backup forward Ryan Anderson (knee).

Norris Cole, acquired from Miami last month to help fill the void left by Holiday's absence, scored a team-high 19 on Monday. He's averaged 11.7 points in six games with New Orleans.

Davis and Anderson combined for 44 points as the Pelicans shot 48.8 percent and owned a 47-30 rebounding advantage during a 105-94 win at Detroit on Jan. 14.

New Orleans has averaged 104.8 points and shot 47.4 percent during a five-game winning streak over the Pistons (23-36), who are looking to avoid a fourth straight defeat.

Though Detroit showed its mettle by overcoming a 21-point deficit to take a one-point lead with 6:48 to play at Washington on Saturday, it failed to hold on and lost 99-95.

The Pistons rank sixth in the NBA shooting 46.8 percent when trailing by at least 15 points but 20th at 43.8 percent when ahead by three or fewer.

"I don't know if its pressure when we're ahead and we can't handle it or what, but we don't play the same way when we are in front. That's got to change," said Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy, whose team has followed a seven-game road winning streak by losing six of seven away from home.

After recording 28 points and 13 rebounds in Friday's double-overtime loss to New York, Greg Monroe had 21 with 10 boards against the Wizards. He's totaled 55 points and 20 rebounds in the last two at New Orleans.

Pelicans guard Tyreke Evans fell shy of a triple-double versus Detroit with 18 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in January.