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New Orleans • Alec Burks' sprained left ankle is improving, but the Utah Jazz guard says he won't be ready to play tonight against the Pelicans.
Burks, who injured his ankle playing a game of one-on-one in practice and his missed three straight games, went through shootaround at the Smoothie King Center this morning and showed some encouraging signs, coach Ty Corbin said.
"He moved pretty well," Corbin said. "We'll see. He did pretty good this morning. We'll look at him this afternoon and see."
Burks, however, was less optimistic.
"I'm not in shape," he said. "I want to play some one-on-one, two-on-two first."
So Burks' streak looks like it will continue.
The Jazz, meanwhile, hope to avoid extending different streak. Utah has lost its last two games since Trey Burke's 3-pointer gave them a win over the Magic last weekend. Tonight (tipoff is set for just after 6 p.m. MT) the Jazz get a late-surging New Orleans Pelicans team, led by one of the game's best young players.
The Pelicans have won four straight, beating the Hawks, Heat, Nets and Clippers.
And big man Anthony Davis has been sensational. Over the Pelicans' winning streak, Davis is averaging 26 points, 12 rebounds and nearly 3 blocks.
"Oh, man, I'll tell you what. One of the greatest things about him along with his talent is his motor," Corbin said. "It doesn't seem like the guy gets tired."
Despite the 6-foot-10 forward's shot-blocking abilities, Corbin said his team must remain aggressive and attack the rim.
"You can't not go because he's there," the coach said. "You have to be smart about how you're attacking."
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