Sports

New Orleans Pelicans (3-20, 15th in the Western Conference) vs. Brooklyn Nets (5-17, 13th in the Eastern Conference)

New York; Saturday, 5 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: New Orleans visits Brooklyn looking to stop its five-game road skid.

The Nets are 1-10 on their home court. Brooklyn has a 1-12 record against teams over .500.

The Pelicans have gone 1-9 away from home. New Orleans leads the Western Conference with 54.6 points per game in the paint led by Zion Williamson averaging 14.6.

The Nets average 109.0 points per game, 14.4 fewer points than the 123.4 the Pelicans give up. The Pelicans' 45.3% shooting percentage from the field this season is 4.4 percentage points lower than the Nets have given up to their opponents (49.7%).

TOP PERFORMERS: Michael Porter Jr. is averaging 25.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Nets. Noah Clowney is averaging 29 points and three blocks over the last 10 games.

Trey Murphy III is averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.7 steals for the Pelicans. Jose Alvarado is averaging 3.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Nets: 4-6, averaging 109.1 points, 40.9 rebounds, 25.9 assists, 6.8 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.6 points per game.

Pelicans: 1-9, averaging 118.6 points, 43.9 rebounds, 24.8 assists, 9.3 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 125.8 points.

INJURIES: Nets: Haywood Highsmith: out (knee), Michael Porter Jr.: day to day (rest), Drake Powell: day to day (knee), Cam Thomas: out (hamstring).

Pelicans: Herbert Jones: out (calf), Yves Missi: day to day (foot), Dejounte Murray: out (leg), Zion Williamson: out (abductor), Jordan Poole: day to day (quad).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Los Angeles Lakers (16-5, second in the Western Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (13-9, fifth in the Eastern Conference)

Boston; Friday, 7 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Celtics -6.5; over/under is 223.5

BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles plays the Boston Celtics after Austin Reaves scored 44 points in the Lakers' 123-120 victory against the Toronto Raptors.

The Celtics have gone 7-4 at home. Boston is fourth in the NBA averaging 15.4 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 35.8% from deep. Derrick White leads the team averaging 2.9 makes while shooting 32.4% from 3-point range.

The Lakers have gone 9-2 away from home. Los Angeles is 4-0 in games decided by less than 4 points.

The Celtics are shooting 47.0% from the field this season, 1.4 percentage points lower than the 48.4% the Lakers allow to opponents. The Lakers are shooting 51.2% from the field, 6.8% higher than the 44.4% the Celtics' opponents have shot this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jaylen Brown is averaging 29 points, six rebounds and 4.8 assists for the Celtics. White is averaging 30.0 points over the last 10 games.

Luka Doncic is scoring 35.3 points per game and averaging 8.9 rebounds for the Lakers. Reaves is averaging 5.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 8-2, averaging 122.6 points, 45.4 rebounds, 25.8 assists, 7.7 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 50.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.0 points per game.

Lakers: 8-2, averaging 120.5 points, 41.5 rebounds, 25.0 assists, 7.6 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 51.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.5 points.

INJURIES: Celtics: Jayson Tatum: out (achilles), Jaylen Brown: day to day (illness).

Lakers: Luka Doncic: day to day (personal), Marcus Smart: day to day (back).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.