The New Orleans Pelicans 7-7 record carries an apt representation for their performance thus far in 2018-19. Thrilling and dominating victories over the Rockets, Kings and Raptors are met with equally dismal performances against the Jazz, Thunder and Wolves. But they will have every chance — and should expect to crawl back above .500 — against a New York Knicks squad that should be anything but intimidating without their star player, Kristaps Porzingis.
With a 4-11 record, the Knickerbockers sit fourth from the bottom in the NBA standings and have to be considered a possible landing spot for any of Duke’s highly coveted big three.