The Pelicans are a play-on team. The Nets definitely are not.

It's also a bad spot for the Nets. The Nets are returning to Brooklyn following a 1-5 road trip that essentially killed any realistic chance for a play-in playoff spot. The final blow was an overtime loss to the Spurs in San Antonio two days ago.

The Nets are 2-6 in their last eight games with three consecutive losses and non-covers.

New Orleans, on the other hand, is playing its finest ball - a season-best 15 games above .500. The Pelicans have one of the top road marks at 21-13. They are 6-1 in their last seven games with all of the victories during this span being by more than seven points.

The Pelicans buried the Nets, 112-85, when the teams met the first time this season on Jan. 2.