The New Orleans Pelicans (19-52) are looking to bounce back from a heavy 127-81 loss at home to the Detroit Pistons (39-32) earlier this week when they play again on Sunday afternoon (3 ET, League Pass).
Here are five key points to know before the game:
Pelicans create extra chances: New Orleans stands fifth in the NBA for second-chance points, averaging 15.7 per game. They had an 18-17 edge in this area during their 127-81 defeat to Detroit on March 17, but they will need to be aggressive in this aspect to stay competitive in the rematch.
Missi in the center: Rookie Yves Missi has been a standout player for the Pelicans. The No. 21 overall pick from last year’s draft is currently ranked 8th on the NBA’s Kia Rookie Ladder, averaging 8.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks while shooting 54.0% from the field. In the first game against Detroit, Missi recorded 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
Detroit fighting for position in the East: The Pistons have had a few bumps in the road lately, going 5-5 in their last 10 games. Despite these challenges, Detroit holds the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference, but their remaining schedule looks tough. Out of their last 11 games, eight are against teams that are expected to reach the playoffs.
Beasley steps up with the starters: After Tim Hardaway Jr. had to leave Friday’s game early due to an ankle injury, Malik Beasley now has the opportunity to join the starting lineup for Detroit. He has performed well in March, scoring in double digits in 10 out of 11 games, with an average of 14.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. Beasley is also hitting 39.6% of his nearly nine 3-point shots per game.
Cunningham leading the Pistons: Cade Cunningham is having an impressive year in his fourth season, achieving career-high stats in nearly every category. He ranks 12th in the NBA for scoring (25.7 points per game), third in assists (9.2), and is tied for third in triple-doubles (9). In his last 10 games, Cunningham has averaged 28.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.3 steals while playing close to 35 minutes each game.
