For the first of two times this season, the Atlanta Hawks will face off against the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pels had high hopes this season with the addition of high-energy big man Julius Randle as well as Elfrid Payton as a young point guard.
Though the team was playing a blistering pace to start the season and rumbled strongly out of the gates, the team was torn asunder when Anthony Davis requested a trade before the deadline. The fallout from the failed deal effectively ended the Pelicans’ season – and they are really just running out the string on this season.