New Orleans @ Sacramento preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 30, 2018 ) Sacramento 114, New Orleans 103

The New Orleans Pelicans attempt to equal their longest winning streak in seven years when they visit the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. The red-hot Pelicans rode All-Star power forward Anthony Davis to their ninth consecutive victory Tuesday to move within one of the 10-game run by the 2010-11 club that was led by Chris Paul.

Davis recorded 41 points, 13 rebounds, three steals and three blocked shots as the Pelicans posted a 121-116 road victory Tuesday and he scored 31 of those points in the second half after leaving briefly in the second quarter after taking a blow to the ribs. "It was sore," Davis said in a postgame television interview. "I got hit in the ribs but knowing the position we're in, I just wanted to get back out there and do what I can to help the team." Davis is averaging 34.5 points over the past 13 games while scoring 40 or more on six occasions and falling two points short two other times. Sacramento has won two of its last three games and hasn't played since Sunday, when it defeated the New York Knicks 102-99.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS New Orleans, NBCS California (Sacramento)

ABOUT THE PELICANS (37-26): Guard Jrue Holiday fell one point shy of his ninth straight 20-point effort but contributed a career-best 17 assists against the Clippers and made a key late-game steal on guard Lou Williams. "He really gets locked in, especially the last three, four minutes of the game when it really counts," New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry said afterward of Holiday. "I thought he did a great job on Lou Williams and some of the tough shots that he makes." Holiday is averaging 25.1 points and 8.6 assists during the winning streak and has picked up some of the scoring slack after All-Star DeMarcus Cousins suffered a season-ending Achilles injury.

ABOUT THE KINGS (20-44): Second-year forward Skal Labissiere (right knee) is listed as questionable after being the hero for the first time in his NBA career during the victory over the Knicks. The 21-year-old ad-libbed on a play designed for Bogdan Bogdanovic or De'Aaron Fox to take the clutch shot but instead of passing the ball, he looked toward the basket and drained a 3-pointer with 2.6 seconds for the first game-winning basket of his NBA career. "Just play with confidence," Labissiere told reporters when pressed about his audible. "When I'm hesitant the game becomes harder, so I just try to not even think about that. ... What happens, happens."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Kings are 2-1 against the Pelicans this season and have won four of the past six meetings.

2. New Orleans PG Rajon Rondo is averaging 11 assists over the past five games.

3. Sacramento C Willie Cauley-Stein (back) will miss his third straight game.

PREDICTION: Pelicans 110, Kings 106