Los Angeles @ New Orleans preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 11, 2017 ) L.A. Clippers 103, New Orleans 111

The New Orleans Pelicans are reeling from a devastating injury to one of their All-Stars, just when the team was beginning to gain some momentum. The Pelicans will begin life without DeMarcus Cousins when they host the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.

New Orleans was polishing off an impressive victory on Friday over the Houston Rockets -- its fourth straight win and seventh in the last eight games -- when Cousins went down with a torn Achilles tendon. "I feel horrible for him," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters. "Everything that he's done, and what he's tried to do for us this year, and what he's made himself, and the improvements in all areas that he's made on and off the court, has just been great. I don't want that to happen to a guy that's trying to better himself." The Clippers know a thing or two about losing key players to long-term injuries but at least have Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan back on the court together. Those two combined for 29 points and 17 rebounds on Friday but took a backseat to reserve guard Lou Williams while snapping a three-game slide with a 109-100 win at Memphis.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, FS Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), FS New Orleans

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (24-24): Williams helped the Clippers get through injuries to Griffin, Jordan, Patrick Beverley, Danlio Gallinari and others and continues to perform at a high level. Williams collected 40 points on 12-of-19 shooting, 10 assists and four steals in 34 minutes off the bench on Friday -- the fourth time this season that he scored at least 40 points. "I'm a scorer, but it's just the opportunity to be out on the floor and just trying to create things," Williams, who is averaging 29.3 points in January, told reporters. "This is such a unique season for me with what's expected of me. It's unique. Every night it's a different vibe for me."

ABOUT THE PELICANS (27-21): Cousins, who is one of three NBA players averaging at least 25 points and 10 rebounds and put up one of the best stat lines in history with 44 points, 23 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over Chicago on Monday, will reportedly miss the rest of the season. "Just keep going. That's all we can do," New Orleans All-Star Anthony Davis, who is one of the other players in league averaging at least 25 and 10, told reporters after Friday's win. "A great win, but we are not sure what is going to happen with DeMarcus (Cousins), so we have just got to keep going. I mean, next guy up, honestly. We can't keep our head down and just pray. We have just got to move on to the next game Sunday and try and go out there and do the same thing." Cousins recorded a triple-double with 15 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists before leaving Friday's contest.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Pelicans SF Darius Miller made multiple 3-pointers in each of the last five games, including a 6-of-10 effort on Friday.

2. Clippers rookie PG Milos Teodosic scored a season-high 18 points on Friday.

3. Cousins went for 35 points and 15 rebounds in a 111-103 home win over Los Angeles on Nov. 11.

PREDICTION: Pelicans 106, Clippers 101