By Sam Bush
So this is what the New Orleans Pelicans play like when Anthony Davis is in the lineup.
Davis (photo above) had 32 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots, and New Orleans stretched its season-long winning streak to four games with a 99-74 victory over the Sixers on Monday night.
Back on Jan. 16, the Sixers pummeled the Pelicans at home 96-81 with rookie Nerlens Noel getting a double double. But Davis was injutred and didn’t play.
K.J. McDaniels scored 16 points for the 76ers, who lost their sixth straight. Henry Sims and Luc Mbah a Moute each scored 14 points.
Philly played without Michael Carter-Williams, who was sidelined by an upper respiratory infection.
Noel, who was matched up with Davis, said he may have been over-hyped for the game. He finished with two points on 1-for-9 shooting to go with two blocks and six rebounds.
”I probably should have slowed my mind down. I was thinking about the game too much,” Noel said. ”I need to have the mindset of playing within myself. … I should have found better ways to get myself going during the game.”
Davis was 12-of-19 shooting, including five layups and five crowd-pleasing dunks, and made all eight of his free throws as New Orleans (24-21) moved three games above .500 for the first time since coach Monty Williams’ first season in 2010-11.
”He is a stud,” Sixers coach Brett Brown said of Davis. ”Monty has done an excellent job of featuring him … and their players complement him.”
Davis had his second 13-point quarter of the game in the third period, and his last two free throws gave New Orleans its largest lead at 85-60. Davis and the rest of New Orleans’ starters, including Gordon and Evans, did not play in the fourth quarter.
The Pelicans outshot the Sixers 45.3 percent (39 of 86) to 34.6 percent (28 of 81) and outrebounded Philly 52-38.
Half of Davis’ rebounds came on the offensive end, several leading to putbacks. He also had three steals and three assists while not turning the ball over once.
Davis had 13 points in the first quarter, highlighted by an alley-oop jam in which he caught Evans’ lob with his right hand while soaring toward the hoop and slammed it down in one well-timed motion over a defender cutting across his path.
His early surge helped the Pelicans race to a 31-19 lead.
The Sixers got as close as 34-33 while Davis rested, but the Pelicans gradually rebuilt their lead to 13 after Davis returned and led 52-43 at the break.
