Davis’ dunks aplenty lead Pelicans past 76ers, 99-74

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Anthony Davis had 32 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots, and the New Orleans Pelicans stretched their season-long winning streak to four games with a 99-74 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night.

Ryan Anderson scored 19 points and Eric Gordon added 13 for New Orleans, while Tyreke Evans tied a season high - set one night earlier - with 12 assists.

K.J. McDaniels scored 16 points for the 76ers, who lost their sixth straight. Henry Sims and Luc Mbah a Moute had 14 points.

Philadelphia played without Michael Carter-Williams, who was sidelined by an upper respiratory infection.

Davis was 12-of-19 shooting, including five layups and five crowd-pleasing dunks, and made all eight of his free throws as New Orleans (24-21) went three games above .500 for the first time since coach Monty Williams' first season in 2010-11.

Davis had his second 13-point quarter of the game in the third period, and his last two free throws gave New Orleans its largest lead at 85-60. Davis and the rest of New Orleans' starters, including Gordon and Evans, did not play in the fourth quarter.

The Pelicans outshot the Sixers 45.3 percent (39 of 86) to 34.6 percent (28 of 81) and outrebounded Philadelphia 52-38.

Half of Davis' rebounds came on the offensive end, several leading to putbacks. He also had three steals and three assists while not turning the ball over once.

He may have been his most animated after his pass from the top of the key led to Omer Asik's layup as he was fouled. Asik finished with 10 points.

Davis had 13 points in the first quarter, highlighted by an alley-oop jam in which he caught Evans' lob with his right hand while soaring toward the hoop and slammed it down in one well-timed motion over a defender cutting across his path.

His early surge helped the Pelicans race to a 31-19 lead early in the second quarter, but with Davis getting a rest, the Sixers used a 14-3 run to cut their deficit to 34-33.

Davis returned shortly afterward and the Pelicans gradually rebuilt their lead to 13 when Gordon's 3 made it 52-39.

The Sixers closed to 52-43 by halftime on Mbah a Moute's turnaround bank shot, which gave him 10 points in the half.

TIP-INS

76ers: The Sixers won the first of the two meetings the teams have this season on Jan. 16 in Philadelphia, 96-81. That was also the last time they won a game. ... Philadelphia fell to 5-19 on the road. ... Because of a major snow storm in the Northeast, the Sixers decided to spend Monday night in the Big Easy instead of flying out right after the game. They were scheduled to fly home Tuesday morning.

Pelicans: New Orleans improved its home record to 10 games above .500 at 15-5. ... The victory pulled the Pelicans to 1 1/2 games behind Phoenix for the eighth and final playoff seed in the Western Conference.

UP NEXT

76ers: Host Detroit on Wednesday.

Pelicans: Host Denver on Wednesday.

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