NEW ORLEANS — Brooklyn Nets (8-4, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (1-11, 15th in the Western Conference)
New Orleans; Friday, 8 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets visit the New Orleans Pelicans. Durant leads the league averaging 29.5 points per game.
The Pelicans have gone 0-5 in home games. New Orleans is seventh in the Western Conference in rebounding with 46.4 rebounds. Jonas Valanciunas leads the Pelicans with 14.0 boards.
The Nets are 4-2 on the road. Brooklyn ranks second in the Eastern Conference shooting 37.9% from 3-point range.
TOP PERFORMERS: Devonte’ Graham is averaging 15.9 points and 5.5 assists for the Pelicans. Valanciunas is averaging 21.3 points and 14.8 rebounds while shooting 53.0% over the past 10 games for New Orleans.
Durant is scoring 29.5 points per game with 8.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists for the Nets. James Harden is averaging 17.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 8.9 assists over the past 10 games for Brooklyn.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pelicans: 1-9, averaging 99.7 points, 47.1 rebounds, 22.5 assists, 8.0 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 40.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.8 points per game.
Nets: 7-3, averaging 106.1 points, 45.7 rebounds, 24.8 assists, 6.6 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 100.5 points.
INJURIES: Pelicans: Zion Williamson: out (foot), Daulton Hommes: out (leg), Brandon Ingram: out (hip).
Nets: Kyrie Irving: out (not with team), Nicolas Claxton: out (illness).