The New Orleans Pelicans (26-18, 6th Western Conference) pay a visit to Fiserv Forum Saturday to play the Milwaukee Bucks (31-13, 2nd Eastern Conference) in a matchup between two division leading teams. Both New Orleans and Milwaukee will be playing the back half of back-to-backs on Saturday after both playing on Friday night as well. New Orleans defeated the Utah Jazz 153-124 in their most recent game on Tuesday and Milwaukee defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-116 in their most recent game on Wednesday. New Orleans faces Oklahoma City on Friday and Milwaukee plays Cleveland again on Friday before the Pelicans and Bucks meet head to head Saturday. New Orleans does not have any players listed on its injury report. Giannis Antetokoun mpo is probable for Milwaukee.
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New Orleans is 12th in scoring with an average of 117.5 points per game. The Pelicans have the 8th best field goal shooting percentage at 48.9% and the fourth best 3-point shooting percentage at 38.6%. New Orleans is making 76.5% free throws which is 24th. New Orleans is led in scoring by Zion Williamson with an average of 21.9 points per game and Brandon Ingram is second with an average of 21.4 points per game. Five other players for New Orleans average double figures in scoring. Ingram is the assists leader with an average of 5.7 dishes per contest.
The New Orleans defense is allowing an average of 112.5 points per game which is 10th in the NBA. The Pelicans are holding opponents to an average of 46.1% shooting overall which is sixth lowest in the NBA and 34.4% shooting from 3-point territory, which is second lowest in league. New Orleans averages 11.0 offensive and 33.5 defensive rebounds per game for a total of 44.5 boards per contest led by Jonas Valanciunas with an average of 9.6 rebounds per game. Valanciunas is the rim protector with an average of 1.1 blocked shots per game and Dyson Daniels is the leader in steals with an average of 1.3 per game.