The Toronto Raptors started their second half of the NBA season with one of their best road wins over the Eastern Conference leading Atlanta Hawks only to follow it up with one of their worst losses of the season as the team fell to the Houston Rockets. Currently battling for position in the East, the Raptors are hoping for a strong second-half push and will need to get back on track as they face off against the ailing New Orleans Pelicans on Monday.
The Pelicans have a chance of getting into the postseason if they can put up a strong second half run. However, that effort will be much harder as Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson continue to sit out with injuries. Davis will be out for the next two weeks with a right shoulder sprain. He originally missed two games before the All-Star break with the issue and then struggled in his return. He then re-aggravated the injury against the Orlando Magic, putting up just 13 points while going 2 of 8 against Miami. Anderson is expected to miss more time with a right knee sprain suffered against the Heat.
The Pelicans were putting themselves in position for the postseason. The went 3-1 before the All-Star break before dropping their next four including two without Davis. They have lost four at home and are hoping not to make it five as the Raptors come to town. New Orleans is 2-5 this season when playing without Davis. The Raptors were on a four-game win streak before falling to the Houston Rockets and only managing 76 points.
Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan combined for just 21 points while going 6 for 27 in shooting. Toronto shot a combined 32.5 percent overall while producing 25 turnovers. Lou Williams is expected to return after sitting out a game with an ankle injury. Getting the guard back in the rotation should help after he totaled 53 points in his two previous games before the injury.
