PREVIEW: Pelicans at Bulls

[December 27, 2014]  SportsDirect Inc.
 
 New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis will get his first opportunity to play an NBA game in his hometown when the Pelicans travel to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night. Davis, who came into Friday leading the league in rebounding and fourth in scoring, missed last season's meeting in Chicago with a broken hand and the year before with a concussion. Davis had 24 points, eight rebounds and six blocks when these teams met in New Orleans in February.

The Pelicans played Friday night and the Bulls had an extra day off after posting an easy win against the visiting Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day, but New Orleans should be riding more of an emotional high after knocking off the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs 97-90. As he has all season, Davis was a key figure in the victory, producing 22 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks. Bulls guard Derrick Rose is beginning to look like the league MVP he was in 2010-11, scoring at least 25 points in each of the last three games, something he hasn't done since January 2012.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN New Orleans, WGN (Chicago)

ABOUT THE PELICANS (15-14): Jrue Holiday didn't get a chance to show much of his skill set last season, as he only played 34 games for New Orleans because of a stress fracture in his right leg, but he's emerging as a fan favorite in his second year with the team. He delivered one of the top blocked shots of the season in Friday's win against the Spurs, going up extra high to reject fellow UCLA alum Kyle Anderson in the opening minutes, which seemed to set the tone for the entire game. His final line against San Antonio was impressive, as he finished with 15 points, five rebounds, seven assists, two steals and two blocks.

ABOUT THE BULLS (20-9): As Chicago looks to extend its winning streak to a season-long six games, the impressive improvement of Jimmy Butler hasn't waned. He's averaging 25 points in the last five games to boost his team-high scoring average to 21.6, a monster improvement over last season (13.1) and the season before (8.6). Don't be surprised if Butler gets a few chances to guard Davis in the halfcourt.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Holiday is married to U.S. women's national soccer team player Lauren Cheney.

2. Bulls G Kirk Hinrich has missed the last two games with tendinitis in his left knee and remains day to day.

3. New Orleans has won three of the last four against Chicago.

PREDICTION: Pelicans 97, Bulls 94

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