Chicago @ New Orleans preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 4, 2017 ) New Orleans 96, Chicago 90

Both the Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans won four of their last five games entering an intriguing matchup Monday night in The Big Easy. The Bulls began a three-game road trip with a 16-point win at Atlanta to recover from a tough loss three nights earlier to the defending champion Golden State Warriors.

"I thought that we really played a complete game tonight," Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters after his team shot 50 percent from the field and held the Hawks to 38 percent. "I thought that we played with the right mentality." Rookie Lauri Markkanen ended his string of games with at least one made 3-pointer at 15 in a row but he was 8-for-12 inside the arc en route to 19 points for the Bulls, who have won six of their last 10 on the road. Jrue Holiday scored 27 points to lead the Pelicans past Memphis 111-104 on Saturday. New Orleans scored at least 111 points in each of its wins during a 5-2 stretch.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS New Orleans

ABOUT THE BULLS (18-28): Zach LaVine provided an instant boost with 32 points through his first two games back from ACL surgery but the athletic guard hit a bit of a rough patch by averaging 6.5 points and shooting 4-for-21 over his last two affairs. Kris Dunn missed the win over the Hawks as he is in concussion protocol and has already been ruled out for this one, which could give another start in the backcourt to Jerian Grant. The 25-year-old Grant had eight points, six rebounds and six assists against Atlanta while making multiple 3-pointers for the first time since Dec. 29.

ABOUT THE PELICANS (24-21): Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins both finished with over 20 points against Memphis but they were able to let Holiday be the go-to guy for much of the night and the star tandem finished with a combined 26 shots - nearly 10 below their norm. "Anthony told me to be aggressive. He told me to get to 20 points this game and we would win," Holiday told reporters. "I just listened to the captain." Davis had 27 points and 16 rebounds and Cousins recorded 25 and 11 in a win at Chicago on Nov. 4.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Bulls C Robin Lopez is 22-for-30 from the field over his last three games.

2. Davis averages 27.5 points on 58.1 percent shooting at home.

3. Chicago had won six straight meetings before the 96-90 overtime loss to New Orleans in November.

PREDICTION: Pelicans 117, Bulls 113