Keep that in mind when you read his line against the Bulls – 24 points on 10-14 FG shooting, 8 rebounds, 6 blocks, 3 assists and three steals. Davis was everywhere on defense with several more passes tipped and shots altered, instances invisible in the box score.

The game served as yet another in a long list of games that make it scarcely believable Davis was overlooked for a spot on the Western Conference All-Star team, at least as a reserve. Few could suggest multiple Western Conference big men playing better than the second-year star.

Davis largely powered the Pelicans throughout the latter stages of the game but it was Eric Gordon who helped the home team to a fast start scoring the game’s first 7 points as the Bulls went 0-2 with a turnover for their first three possessions.

The game descended into another in which the Bulls failed to generate enough clean looks to be of any trouble to New Orleans, shooting just 38.5 percent from the field and even worse from behind the arc – 3-16 for 18.8 percent.

Although the Bulls failed to score from the field, they did enjoy plenty of trips to the free-throw line courtesy of some very tight officiating. However, the charity did not help with the Bulls combining to convert just 66.6 percent of their 33 foul shots, unable to take advantage of a 33-10 lead in FTAs.

It’s not often one can say this about the Bulls, but on this night they were thoroughly out-hustled by their opponents and, most surprisingly, outworked down low.

New Orleans at one stage enjoyed a 40-18 edge in points in the paint while also outrunning the Bulls 10-2 on the break and topping the Bulls’ reserves 23-3  before Taj Gibson helped limit the bleeding late in the game.

D.J. Augustin, again given the start ahead of Kirk Hinrich, proved why the chatter surrounding both his short-term future as the starting point guard and long-term as the backup to Rose is well warranted. Augustin again ran the offense competently, dishing out 7 assists to go with his team-high 23 points albeit on 8-16 shooting.

Joakim Noah performed admirably against a formidable frontcourt, hauling down 16 boards to go with his 14 points and 5 assists. Noah did however battle foul trouble for most of the game, having to sit the final five minutes of third quarter having picked up his fourth foul. He also suffered a nasty cut to the chin after hitting the deck hard, but played on.

Jimmy Butler also continued his resurgency, although he only finished with 10 points on 9 shots he looked more confident in his shot and more comfortable than he has done recently.

Next up for the Bulls is a back-to-back taking in the sights of Sacramento and Phoenix on Monday and Tuesday respectively.

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With health finally improving enough to let Joakim Noah return and allow Jimmy Butler to look much more comfortable than he has late since battling through a string of injuries.

This will be the second meeting with the Pelicans, the first being a memorable triple-overtime game with Anthony Davis on the sidelines in Chicago.

Since then, Davis has returned and picked up where he left off, his play making him one of the biggest of this season’s All-Star snubs.

However, Ryan Anderson has replaced Davis on the injury report, the Pelicans being forced to shut him down for several weeks with the sharpshooting big man suffering a herniated disk in his back.

The ongoing injury nightmare for New Orleans has also robbed them of Jrue Holiday thanks to a stress fracture.

The Pelicans’ season has largely been a story of wild inconsistency. Monty Williams has enjoyed a solid reputation as a defensive-minded coach, yet the Pelicans have ranked near the bottom of the league in several defensive statistics most of this season. This despite the presence of Anthony Davis, one of the best upcoming young talents on both sides of the ball.

New Orleans, 4-6 in their last ten games, has shown some signs of righting the ship with four wins their last six games, holding opponents to under 100 points in three of the four victories.

With Holiday out indefinitely, Brian Roberts has stepped into a starting role and has been surprisingly effective, averaging 13.0 points per game over the previous five games.

Probable Starters

Chicago Bulls

PG: D.J. Augustin, 6th season. 13.7 points per game, 6.0 assists per game.

SG: Jimmy Butler, 3rd season. 12.2 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game.

SF: Mike Dunleavy, Jr, 12th season. 11.2 points per game, 3.9 rebounds per game.

PF: Carlos Boozer, 12th season. 15.1 points per game, 8.6 rebounds per game.

C: Joakim Noah, 7th season. 11.7 points per game, 11.4 rebounds per game.

New Orleans Hornets

PG: Brian Roberts, 2nd season. 7.4 points per game, 2.7 assists per game.

SG: Eric Gordon, 6th season. 15.9 points per game, 2.9 rebounds per game.

SF: Al-Farouq Aminu, 4th season. 7.7 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game.

PF: Anthony Davis, 2nd season. 20.4 points per game, 10.4 rebounds per game.

C: Greg Stiemsma, 3rd season. 2.8 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game.

The post Game #46: Bulls at Pelicans Preview appeared first on Bulls By The Horns.

Stats from Basketball-Reference

New Orleans Injury Report:
Eric Gordon: probable (sprained right hand)

Overview:
Unsure if Derrick Rose will return this season, the Bulls sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference after the All-Star Break. They limped into the break with a bunch of injuries, which showed as they went 2-5 over their last seven games (all against playoff teams).

The schedule doesn’t get much easier, as Chicago will play their last 30 games of the season. Before April, the Bulls play Miami twice (both at home), the Pacers twice, the Thunder, Spurs, Jazz, Nuggets, Nets, Warriors and Lakers. That’s a tough stretch even if Chicago was at full health.

The Bulls are getting a point guard back tonight, but it’s not the one many people were expecting by the All-Star Break. Kirk Hinrich will return to the lineup after missing seven games with an elbow infection. Hinrich will go back to the starting line-up, and Nate Robinson will come off the bench again.

Robinson has started 12 games this season, and has come off the bench 40 times. In the games he starts, he is averaging 13.7 points on 41.6 percent shooting in 35.0 minutes. In the games he is a reserve, he averages 11.5 points on 44.8 percent shooting in 20.4 minutes of action.

The Hornets are in last place in the Southwest division, but are on a two-game win streak and are 4-1 in their last five games. They are coming off a blowout win over the Trail Blazers, in which Portland shot 32.4 percent from the field and was out-rebounded 52-35 (15-6 on the offensive glass). Only three players for Portland scored in double-figures and two of their best players combined for nine. Nicolas Batum went 1-10 from the field for three points and LaMarcus Aldridge wasn’t much better, shooting 2-11 and finishing with six points. Everyone on the Trail Blazers recorded a negative plus/minus except Wesley Matthews, who played two minutes and recorded a zero.

Anthony Davis posted a double-double (21 points, eleven boards), Ryan Anderson went 2-5 from deep off the bench for 14 points and Greivis Vasquez overcame his poor shooting (3-8) to tally ten points, eight assists and five rebounds.

Not to take anything away from the Hornets, but it seems like Portland was looking ahead to the All-Star break a little bit, rather than worrying about that one last contest.

The Bulls had their own embarrassing loss to enter the break, falling to Boston in a 71-69 game that lacked offense (and fun). The Celtics shot 36.8 percent, only to be outdone by the Bulls 36.5 percent. The Bulls out-rebounded Boston, 49-39, but turned it over 22 times for 20 points going the other way. The Bulls scored eleven points off 12 Boston turnovers.

Tonight is the last time this season the Bulls will play the Hornets, and Chicago can get revenge for an 89-82 early November loss. Boozer went 1-8 in the loss, as did Kirk Hinrich. Rip Hamilton made two shots, matching Boozington and Kirk by himself, but also missed ten. Those three guys combined for ten points. Luol Deng led the Bulls with 19 points and Nate scored 15 off the bench, but Chicago shot 33.0 percent and finished 3-17 from deep.

The Pelicans, who were missing number one pick Anthony Davis because of a concussion, didn’t shoot well, but did enough to take care of the Bulls. Vasquez scored 18 points; Robin Lopez went 7-10 from the field and posted 16 points and four blocks. Jason Smith hit 4-5 shots and all eight free throws off the bench for New Orleans as he dropped 16 points.

Eric Gordon is also expected to play tonight. Gordon is averaging 16.4 points this season.

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