National Basketball Association

Davis, Pelicans aim for first win vs. visiting Bucks

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 3:36 p.m. ET

foxsports

NEW ORLEANS -- It may not be time just yet for the New Orleans Pelicans to press the panic button -- it will take a few more losses before fans demand the black box with the nuclear codes -- but their 0-3 start is as bad as it gets right now in the NBA, especially since they've squandered monster numbers by All-Star Anthony Davis in two of the three losses.

Unfortunately, Pelicans fans have seen this before. Last season, injury-riddled New Orleans fell prostrate at the starting gate, losing 11 of its first 12 games to dig a hole from which it never recovered during a 30-52 season.

So, when the Pelicans host the 1-2 Milwaukee Bucks Tuesday night at the Smoothie King Center, coach Alvin Gentry, despite his calm demeanor after practice on Monday, knows he needs a victory, and he needs it now.

"I think we need a win, obviously," Gentry said. "If you win a game, it takes the pressure off. We have to establish something at home and be able to know that if we play our best basketball, we can win a game and not just play close."

Davis is playing the role of solid soldier. He became the second player in NBA history (other than Michael Jordan) to score 50 points in a season opener since 1963-64 when he scored 50 (with 16 rebounds, seven steals, five assists and four blocks) in a 107-102 home loss to the Denver Nuggets, and he followed that up with 45 points in a 122-114 loss to the Golden State Warriors last Friday night.

In a 98-79 road loss in San Antonio on Saturday, Davis was limited to just 18 points, lowering his scoring average to 37.7 points. Point guard Tim Frazier (13.7) and shooting guard E'Twaun Moore (10.7) are the only other Pelicans scoring in double figures, and New Orleans ranks last in the league in 3-point percentage (.190) on 12-of-63 shooting.

"At some point, you have to make shots," Davis said. "You have to start knocking them down. We're not shooting the ball well, and we have to find another way to win. And, it's not just one guy. It's a couple of guys -- (rookie guard) Buddy (Hield), Solomon (Hill), Langston (Galloway). We have to find a way to make shots."

Perhaps the Bucks will be the magic elixir that gives the Pelicans their first victory of the season. Milwaukee's only win came on a buzzer-beating tip-in by John Henson that beat the Brooklyn Nets 110-108 on Saturday night.

Coach Jason Kidd is toying with his lineup, trying to figure out the best bench rotations. Like the Pelicans, the Bucks are struggling from the outside, going 7 of 33 from long range in their two losses to Charlotte and Detroit.

The Bucks, who are still figuring each other out, shot just 39 percent from the field against the Pistons.

"I don't think we can use that as an excuse," said guard Matthew Dellavedova, the Bucks' free-agent pickup during the offseason. "I think we need to get better."

Kidd said he believes Dellavedova is very capable of running the point full time.

"I thought Delly had a great summer, being the point guard for Australia (in the Olympics)," Kidd said. "He ran the show, he and Patty Mills in the backcourt. Delly is a great complement to everybody."