PREVIEW: Pelicans at Bulls
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[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.
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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)
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2014/Dec/27/images/ads/current/stacy_sda_121014.png) 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.
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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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