Game Preview
The New Orleans Pelicans (5-29) host the Washington Wizards (6-25) in a matchup of struggling teams looking to turn their seasons around. The Pelicans have been mired in a brutal 11-game skid, while the Wizards snapped a three-game slide in their last outing.
New Orleans' offensive woes have been a glaring issue, averaging just 106.7 points per game on 44.2% shooting. Their scoring dipped even lower over their last 20 games at 108.2 points per contest. The Pelicans have struggled to generate consistent offense, hovering around 33% from beyond the arc. They'll need to find a spark against a Wizards team allowing 121.9 points per game this season.
Washington has also had its fair share of offensive struggles, shooting just 44.4% from the field. However, they've shown signs of life over their last 10 games, averaging 112 points on 45.1% shooting. Bradley Beal and company will look to exploit the Pelicans' porous defense that has surrendered nearly 118 points per game.
The rebounding battle could prove pivotal, with the Wizards holding a slight edge by grabbing 44 boards per game compared to New Orleans' 42.6. Both teams have struggled to take care of the ball, each averaging over 14 turnovers per contest. Limiting mistakes will be crucial to establishing any offensive rhythm.
While neither team has much to show for their efforts this season, recent trends favor the visiting Wizards. Washington has looked a shade better offensively of late, while New Orleans is simply searching for answers amid a lengthy skid. Desperation could fuel an inspired effort from the home side, but the Wizards may have just enough firepower to squeak out a road win.