New Orleans @ Memphis preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 18, 2017 ) New Orleans 91, Memphis 103

The New Orleans Pelicans are used to dealing with injury scares related to Anthony Davis, and they are likely to be without their star big man when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. Davis left Monday's 112-109 win over the Detroit Pistons with an ankle injury and is considered doubtful.

Davis missed five of the first 39 games with various injuries and watched his team go 3-2 without him, and the latest injury doesn't appear to be something that will keep him out an extended period. "We've done it, and we've won games without him," New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters of Davis, who had x-rays come back negative. "That gives the team confidence right there. Obviously, we would rather have him in the game, but if he goes out, I think it's great that our guys can maintain what we were trying to do, and even lose a lead, execute at the end of the game and be able to win a close game." The Grizzlies aren't about to feel sorry for any team going through injury problems after their season went off the rails when point guard Mike Conley, who remains without a timetable to return, went down nearly two months ago with an Achilles issue. Memphis is 5-22 without Conley in the lineup and has been off since Friday after dropping the opener of the two-game homestand 102-100 to the Washington Wizards.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS New Orleans, FS Southeast (Memphis)

ABOUT THE PELICANS (20-19): New Orleans is confident it can win without Davis because it has another double-double machine on the inside in DeMarcus Cousins, who scored 16 of his 20 points after Davis' injury on Monday and added 10 rebounds for his sixth consecutive double-double. "You've got the two best bigs in the league, man," Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday told reporters. "How they coincide and coexist is great to be able to do that and feed off each other, but it's a step up for DeMarcus. He's always been just that competitor. When it's his time to take over, he does that, and he does it big." Cousins is averaging 25.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and a career-high 5.1 assists.

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (12-27): Memphis has its own star big man in center Marc Gasol, who is carrying a heavier load with Conley out but has no problem putting the team's struggles on his shoulders. "I've got to do a better job," Gasol told the team's website in reference to a series of poor fourth-quarter performances. "I know what the other teams are trying to do. They're collapsing the paint and making it so that somebody else beats them. I've got to do a better job of running the floor and creating better shot opportunities before the defense even sets." Gasol is getting some scoring help from guard Tyreke Evans, who is averaging 25.3 points over the last eight games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Grizzlies SF Chandler Parsons (knee) is expected to miss his fifth straight game.

2. Pelicans SG E'Twaun Moore scored 23 points on 11-of-14 shooting Monday after totaling 14 points on 5-of-14 in the previous two games.

3. Memphis downed visiting New Orleans 103-91 in the season opener on Oct. 18 behind 27 points from Conley.

PREDICTION: Pelicans 109, Grizzlies 99