After winning their first game this 2015–16 National Basketball Association (NBA) regular season, the New Orleans Pelicans are back on the losing column suffering defeat to the Atlanta Hawks last Wednesday 106–98 without star forward Anthony Davis.
Davis missed the game due to a bruised hip which he suffered in Tuesday's 120–105 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
The injury forced Davis to leave the game against the Mavs and was out for the second half, but the Pelicans still managed to seal the win.
Unfortunately, New Orleans could not do the same Monday night against one of the Eastern Conference's best teams in the Hawks.
Veteran guard Eric Gordon led the Pelicans in the defeat, scoring 26 points, with three rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
"We're a little short-handed. We played hard. They just amped it up a little bit more," Gordon said following the loss, according to the Associated Press.
Helping Gordon were double-double performances from point guard Ish Smith and forward Ryan Anderson. Smith had 18 points and 10 assists, also having five rebounds with one steal, while Anderson tallied 17 points plus 11 rebounds.
Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry, in a report by The Times-Picayune, spoke about the defeat to Atlanta.
"Obviously Anthony had a great game against these guys the last time we played them, tying a career high. (He) creates spacing and other opportunities out on the floor. He wasn't out there tonight, so we had to find other ways to do it," Gentry said.
New Orleans' head coach also discussed how the Hawks' defense limited Anderson with his shots and praised the adjustments they made in the game.
After signing a massive deal in the offseason, the 2015–16 season is supposed to be Davis' year but so far despite his great numbers, the Pelicans are sliding in the Western Conference standings currently with a 1–7 record.
New Orleans will play the second game of a three-game road trip this Friday when it takes on the Toronto Raptors.
