Atlanta @ New Orleans preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 5, 2017 ) Atlanta 99, New Orleans 94

The combination of DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis continue to give opposing teams fits while leading the New Orleans Pelicans, who aim for their fifth victory in the past six games when they host the struggling Atlanta Hawks on Monday. Cousins and Davis combined for 60 points, 25 rebounds and 10 assists Saturday as the Pelicans beat the Los Angeles Clippers 111-103, pushing New Orleans above .500 on the season.

“It shows what type of team we can be if we just take care of the ball,” Cousins told reporters afterward, citing his eight turnovers on the night as the Pelicans surrendered 33 points off turnovers to the Clippers. The Hawks are off to a dreadful start, losing three in a row after an upset victory in Cleveland last week. Atlanta has allowed 110 points or more in seven consecutive games, falling 113-94 on Saturday at Washington as leading scorer Dennis Schroder finished with seven points on 2-of-16 shooting. “Even if I have a game like that, I’ve got to come out there ready next time,” Schroder told the media afterward.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Southeast (Atlanta), FSN New Orleans

ABOUT THE HAWKS (2-11): Schroder failed to score in double figures Saturday for the first time this season, but is averaging 20.6 points and 6.8 assists per game. Center Dewayne Dedmon has played well of late, averaging 13.8 points on 68.2 percent shooting and 8.6 rebounds in his past five contests. Atlanta is 2-7 on the road this season, winning at Dallas on opening night and at Cleveland.

ABOUT THE PELICANS (7-6): Cousins ranks fourth in the NBA in scoring at 28.7 points per game, two spots ahead of Davis’ 27.3 points per contest, and the two are in the top five in the league in rebounding (Cousins third at 13.8; Davis fifth at 12.1). Point guard Jrue Holiday ranks 12th in the NBA in assists at 6.6 per game to go with 14.2 points per contest. The Pelicans are 5-2 when scoring 100-plus points.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Atlanta F Taurean Prince made a career-high four 3-pointers against Washington on Saturday, scoring a team-high 19 points.

2. Holiday recorded his first double-double of the season Thursday against Toronto, scoring 34 points with 11 assists.

3. The Pelicans are second in the NBA in points in the paint per game (52.3).

PREDICTION: Pelicans 115, Hawks 97