The New Orleans Pelicans are sliding down this season as they extended their losing streak to five games last Wednesday when they fell 110–103 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, playing without franchise star Anthony Davis.
In less than two games, Davis was again on the injury list after suffering a shoulder injury in their loss to the Denver Nuggets, which was ahead of their matchup with Oklahoma City.
Davis left in the first quarter of Tuesday's game against Denver, with Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry saying the injury has been bothering the big man since Sunday when they played against the New York Knicks.
In Davis' absence, the Pelicans competed with the Thunder but their efforts came up short.
Leading the way for New Orleans in the defeat was forward Ryan Anderson who had 30 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 44 minutes of action.
The backcourt tandem of Eric Gordon and Ish Smith also played big, scoring 18 points each.
Center Alexis Ajinca contributed a double-double for the Pelicans, having 12 points, 10 rebounds, also having one assist, and two blocks in a losing cause.
The Pelicans only played nine players against the Thunder due to injuries and along with Davis also missed point guards Norris Cole and Jrue Holiday and center Omer Asik.
"I felt like we got everything that we possibly could. I thought we played hard and I thought we competed like crazy. I thought we gave ourselves an opportunity and a great player closed out the game for them," Gentry said, according to the Associated Press.
New Orleans continues to stay on the last spot in the Western Conference standings with a 1–11 record.
Up next for the Pelicans will be a two-game Western Conference home stand which will begin against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, before a matchup with the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.
