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Grizzlies-Pelicans Preview

Feb 1, 2016 - 12:04 AM Even though he was an All-Star three years ago, Jrue Holiday had become something of a forgotten man for the New Orleans Pelicans because of chronic leg injuries.

With improved health this season, Holiday is playing a key role in their turnaround.

The veteran point guard will try to keep rolling as New Orleans wraps up its homestand seeking a sixth victory in seven games Monday night against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Holiday averaged 17.7 points en route to his only All-Star appearance in 2012-13 with Philadelphia, but he's since been limited to 114 games in the past three seasons.

Holiday seemed to be easing his way to back into form, averaging 13.5 points in his first 37 games this season. However, something has clicked over the past three while he's gotten additional playing time as a result of Tyreke Evans' knee injury.

The reserve playmaker has averaged 27.7 points and 8.0 assists in that span. He scored 26 and hit a 15-footer with 1.3 seconds left in Saturday's 105-103 win over Brooklyn.

"If I'm not starting, I want to be in there at the end of games," Holiday said. "I've been in those type of situations a lot since I've been in the league. If I have the ball or not, it doesn't really matter but I do think I can bring something to the team."

Ryan Anderson contributed 24 points and hit five 3-pointers Saturday. He's averaged 26.3 while making 19 of 37 from beyond the arc in his last four games.

Anthony Davis missed his first 10 shots before rallying to finish with 20 points on 9 of 22 from the field. He added 16 rebounds after missing one game because of a concussion.

The Pelicans (18-28) have averaged 110.2 points and 44.1 percent from 3-point range during a 7-2 stretch. They'll try to close out a 6-1 homestand by avenging a 101-99 loss at Memphis on Jan. 18.

The Grizzlies are the only team to hold New Orleans to fewer than 100 points in its last nine games. They also limited the Pelicans to 6 of 19 from 3-point range and forced 15 turnovers.

Marc Gasol scored a career-high 38 points and had 13 rebounds in a 113-104 victory Dec. 1 in the most recent meeting in New Orleans.

The Grizzlies are also thriving offensively, averaging 105.3 points and hitting 40.9 percent from 3-point range during their 7-1 stretch. They have a chance to score at least 100 in regulation in nine straight games for the first time in franchise history.

''It's not always going to be like that,'' Gasol said of his team's hot shooting.

Jeff Green continued his roll with 29 points and Gasol added 22 as Memphis shot 51.9 percent in Saturday's 121-117 win over Sacramento. Green, the subject of trade rumors, has averaged 26.7 points in his last three games.

Memphis (28-20) is focused on tightening things up defensively after allowing 40 fourth-quarter points and its second-highest total of the season Saturday.