NEW ORLEANS -- The Cleveland Cavaliers are coming off a difficult overtime loss. The New Orleans Pelicans are coming off an absolute stinker.
Despite sitting atop the Eastern Conference, the defending world champion Cavaliers (30-12) have looked like anything but world beaters in losing five of their last nine games, including a 118-115 home loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night in which two players forgot to run the correct inbounds play after a timeout in the waning seconds.
The Pelicans (17-27), who had shown some signs of life in the last two weeks, prompted coach Alvin Gentry to launch a tirade after a humbling 143-114 home loss to the woeful Brooklyn Nets, the team with the NBA's worst record, on Friday night.