New Orleans leads the NBA in number of different starting lineups this season with 33, but for a second straight game, the Pelicans will go with the same first unit Friday vs. Portland (35-34). Jrue Holiday, Toney Douglas, Dante Cunningham, Anthony Davis and Omer Asik are expected to be on the floor at tip-off against the Trail Blazers, the same group that began Wednesday’s win over Sacramento.
Although New Orleans (25-42) will start the game in similar fashion to two days ago, don’t be surprised if the Pelicans go with some unusual alignments later. For example, in the Kings game, New Orleans went with the seldom-used frontcourt trio of Davis, Asik and Ryan Anderson.