New Orleans @ Brooklyn preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 2, 2019 ) New Orleans 121, Brooklyn 126

The Brooklyn Nets have struggled out of the gate and hope to pick up a home win against another sub-.500 team before beginning a challening road trip. That opportunity comes Monday against the visiting New Orleans Pelicans, who entered Sunday tied for the worst record in the NBA at 1-5.

The Nets, who start a five-game swing at Portland on Friday, came out of halftime sluggish on the second half of a back-to-back and fell at Detroit on Saturday 113-109. "For some reason we ran out of gas in the second half, and I'm not sure why," coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters of his team, which knocked off Houston the night earlier at home. The Pelicans followed up their first victory of the season with a 115-104 setback at Oklahoma City on Saturday. Leading scorer Brandon Ingram left the contest with a head injury and his status going forward is uncertain.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS New Orleans, YES (Brooklyn)

ABOUT THE PELICANS (1-5): Reserve guard J.J. Redick tried to pick up the slack after Ingram left and finished with 17 points at Oklahoma City, while center Jahlil Okafor notched his first double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds. New Orleans turned the ball over 16 times and shot 13-of-22 from the foul line while falling to 0-3 on the road. "We've got to do a much better job protecting the ball," coach Alvin Gentry told the media. "We've got to do a better job of getting back and getting our defense set. And then we've got to do a better job of executing down the stretch. We didn't do those things."

ABOUT THE NETS (2-4): Guard Kyrie Irving recorded his third career triple-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in Saturday's loss. Forward Taurean Prince also had 20 points and is averaging 23.5 over his last two games while shooting 11-for-18 from 3-point range. Joe Harris is also hot from the perimeter and has hit 20-of-35 beyond the arc on the season.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Nets C DeAndre Jordan picked up his first double-double Saturday with 10 points and 10 rebounds to go along with a season-high four blocked shots.

2. Pelicans PG Lonzo Ball is averaging 8.5 assists and 2.3 steals over his last four games.

3. The teams split two meetings last season with the home team winning both times.

PREDICTION: Nets 118, Pelicans 108