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Wizards complete southern swing in New Orleans

Jan 5, 2015 - 3:45 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Washington Wizards will try to snap out of a season- long losing streak Monday night when they visit the Smoothie King Center to face the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Wizards have dropped three in a row, all during this difficult road trip, which ends Monday. They opened this southern swing with a win over the Houston Rockets, but fell to the Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.

The loss to the defending champs was most recent, a 101-92 setback on Saturday night. It was the Wizards' 17th straight loss to the Spurs and they still haven't won in San Antonio this century.

"Shots weren't going down, but we weren't executing," said Washington guard John Wall. "We didn't run the plays, we took bad shots."

Wall and Bradley Beal led six Wizards in double figures with 15 points apiece. Nene and Marcin Gortat finished with 12 each, while Otto Porter added 11 and Kris Humphries chipped in 10.

The Spurs shot 55 percent and totally shut the Wizards down in the second half. Washington only mustered 34 points over the final 24 minutes and lost for the fifth time in its last eight games.

The Pelicans have alternated wins and losses over their last nine games. Last time out, New Orleans handled the Houston Rockets, 111-83, for its third straight home win.

The Pelicans won wire-to-wire over Houston and they got points from 11 players, led by Ryan Anderson's 22 off the bench. Tyreke Evans contributed 21 points, five assists and four rebounds, and Omer Asik scored nine and pulled in a game-high 11 rebounds.

Dante Cunningham finished with 13 points off the bench and Jimmer Fredette added 10 on 4-for-8 shooting from the field.

"Guys were ready to play tonight," said Anderson. "We were in a rhythm."

Anthony Davis only managed seven points, but took just seven shots. He did grab eight rebounds, hand out three assists, block three shots and get two steals.

New Orleans shot 53 percent from the field, compared to 39.8 percent from the Rockets. The Pelicans out-rebounded Houston, 49-38.

In a bit of good news for the Pelicans, Eric Gordon practiced on Sunday and is a game-time decision versus the Wizards. He's missed the last 21 games with a shoulder injury.

The Pelicans will play six of their next seven on the road following Monday's contest.

The Wizards beat the Pelicans by three in DC on Nov. 29 and have taken six straight in this series. Washington has won three straight in New Orleans and four of its last five.