NEW ORLEANS -- After tying a franchise record with 10 consecutive wins, the New Orleans Pelicans returned to the Smoothie King Center for a critical three-game homestand and promptly lost the first two, the first while playing without All-Star forward Anthony Davis.
But even though Davis returned from a sprained ankle to post the first triple-double of his career -- 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks -- the Pelicans (38-28) dropped a 116-99 decision to the surging Utah Jazz on Sunday, making the race for the Western Conference playoffs even more challenging.