Westbrook’s Big Night Leads Thunder Past Pelicans

The Pelicans opened as 8.5-point road dogs, but after Davis left Tuesday night’s game against Denver with a shoulder injury, New Orleans was moved to +11.5.

Proof? The Thunder has a minus-3 point differential in the fourth quarter through 11 games, including minus-44 in its five losses. Gary Harris added 16 points and Emmanuel Mudiay chipped in 12 with eight assists against just two turnovers. With Anthony Davis leaving the game after just six minutes, the Pelicans were desperately looking for answers and they got that through Ryan Anderson who scored 24 points and Eric Gordon who added 19 points, but despite hanging with the Nuggets for the majority of the game, the Pelicans just ran out of gas in a 64-45 second half rout.

Things aren’t looking good, as the Nuggets represent one of the worst teams and worst losses of the short season, joining the Magic and Mavericks losses on the short list of unforgivable ones already piling up for the Pels this year.

“Danilo was lights-out. I’ve been in the gym working on my shot night in and night out”, Barton said.

In NY, the Nets got past the Hawks 90-88 and with 1.4 seconds remaining Thaddeus Young knocked down two free throws.

This game represents a regression for Holiday, who had been rounding into form as he makes his way back from injury.

New Orleans shot 50 percent for the game, including 14 of 33 from 3-point range, and outrebounded Dallas 48-44. But I’m just saying that in our situation we’re still going to be positive.

“He’s not feeling great, ” Gentry said. “I don’t think the season is over by any stretch of the imagination”. After defeating Portland, Milwaukee and Houston to win three consecutive games last week the Nuggets responded with a clunker in Phoenix as they fell by a final score of 105-81 to the Suns on Saturday. The Pelicans also were without G Tyreke Evans (right knee), F Quincy Pondexter (left knee), G Norris Cole (left ankle) and C Kendrick Perkins….

Both teams were playing with patchwork lineups because of injuries to several starters or regulars.