Fansided

NBA Schedule 2019-20: When does Anthony Davis play the Pelicans?

By Bryan Toporek

EL SEGUNDO, CA - JULY 13: General Manager Rob Pelinka and Head Coach, Frank Vogel introduce Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers to the media during a press conference on July 13, 2019 at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
EL SEGUNDO, CA - JULY 13: General Manager Rob Pelinka and Head Coach, Frank Vogel introduce Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers to the media during a press conference on July 13, 2019 at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Anthony Davis likely won’t be feeling very thankful on the night before Thanksgiving.

New Orleans Pelicans will have to take a break from preparing for Thanksgiving to drown Anthony Davis in a cascade of boos.

Davis will make his long-awaited return to New Orleans on Nov. 27, which marks the first of four matchups between his former team, the Pelicans, and his new team, the Los Angeles Lakers.

  • Lakers at Pelicans: Wednesday, Nov. 27, 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
  • Pelicans at Lakers: Friday, Jan. 3, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
  • Pelicans at Lakers: Tuesday, Feb. 25, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)
  • Lakers at Pelicans: Sunday, March 1, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Davis burned every bridge on his way out of New Orleans, as he upended the Pelicans by requesting a trade shortly before the February trade deadline. When they refused to immediately comply — it behooved them to wait until the offseason to see how the draft lottery played out and involve more teams in the bidding — it created a painfully awkward situation.

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, “some voices” within the Pelicans organization were in favor of benching him for the rest of the season, as an injury could have tanked his trade value. However, “the league office informed the Pelicans that they would be expected to play Davis” and “would be subject to a fine of $100,000 per every game if Davis were benched,” Windhorst reported.

Davis wound up playing in 15 of the Pelicans’ final 27 games, although New Orleans went 5-10 in those contests with the star big man clearly going at half-speed most of the time. To add insult to injury, he wore a T-shirt that read “That’s all, folks!” in his final home game as a member of the Pelicans.

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In mid-June, the Pelicans traded Davis to the Lakers for a monster haul that included Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart. Those three will likely be eager to send a message to the Lakers’ front office during Davis’ first game back in New Orleans.

Although all four of these games should be wildly entertaining, the Thanksgiving Eve matchup figures to be especially heated.

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