LOS ANGELES – The NBA’s leading scorer and shot-blocker, as well as New Orleans’ top rebounder, Anthony Davis has carried such a significant load early in 2016-17 that the Pelicans actually needed him for more than 48 minutes in a recent game, a double-overtime defeat to Memphis. Davis is leading the NBA in minutes played through the team’s first 23 games, and has only missed a mid-November contest at Orlando due to a thigh bruise.
The 23-year-old will get a DNP for just the second time this season Saturday, but it has nothing to do with injury. Alvin Gentry told media prior to tip-off that Davis will be rested against the Clippers, in the first game of a back-to-back and part of a stretch of four games in six nights.