1) Every game is critical at this stage of the season for the Pelicans (26-40), who host Portland (29-36) tonight at 7 p.m. Tickets are available here. In order for New Orleans to own the tiebreaker at season’s end vs. Portland, it’s a virtual lock that the Pelicans must win tonight and on April 12 in Oregon, due to the Trail Blazers’ far superior conference record. Right now the season series is tied 1-1. New Orleans is 5.5 games behind eighth-place Denver (32-35).
2) Watch Monday post-practice videos with Alvin Gentry and DeMarcus Cousins, with Gentry stressing the importance of the next week on the schedule.