NBA Coast to Coast: Pelicans list Anthony Davis as questionable

New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis is listed as questionable for Sunday night’s game against Golden State because of a chest contusion that forced him from Friday night’s victory over Cleveland.

Pelicans Coach Monty Williams says Davis spent Friday night at a hospital, where tests didn’t find any serious injuries that would be expected to sideline Davis for an extended period of time.

Team officials say they’ve been unable to pinpoint when or how Davis was hurt, but the injury is believed to have been caused by a collision with another player’s elbow. Davis is averaging 24.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.7 blocks in his third season.

Chandler rejects some footwear

Tyson Chandler drew the biggest roar of the day from a quiet Dallas crowd when he swatted Marreese Speights’ errant shoe out of midair while Golden State teammate Stephen Curry was trying to toss it to his center.

Speights’ shoe came off when he was trying to make a move with the ball on offense Saturday. The shoe was tossed toward midcourt to get it out of the way as the possession continued and stayed there through a trip to Dallas’ offensive end.

As the teams were heading back down the court, Curry grabbed the shoe and tossed it toward Speights. But Chandler changed direction and batted the shoe with his left hand toward the sideline, causing Curry to gesture toward a referee.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

That’s some nerve

Clippers Coach Doc Rivers on Blake Griffin’s game-winning three-point basket in the final second of overtime Monday against the Phoenix Suns: “Two years ago, Blake wouldn’t have the courage to take that shot. Tonight, he actually wanted it. You could see him step back. He looked for it and that’s a courageous shot.”

Staying put?

New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony, on a report that he was considering waiving his no-trade clause amid his team’s horrible start: “Come on, man. After all the work I did to get here and get back here? If I was to get up and want to leave now that would just make me weak, make me have a weak mind. I’ve never been a person to try to run from any adversity or anything like that so I’m not going to pick today to do that.”

Awkward plea

Denver Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov, making the case that teammate Ty Lawson should be an All-Star while adding a public service announcement: “He’s a good dude, you’ve got to vote for him … and again have a good day and don’t drink and drive.” It was unknown whether Mozgov knew that Lawson was arrested for underage drinking and driving while in college.

Winning mentality

New York Knicks Coach Derek Fisher, on keeping a consistent mind-set despite his team’s struggles: “You can’t waver on becoming successful. You’ll never get there if you waver or give up. That’s what we have to expect as a group.”

—Ben Bolch

GAME OF THE WEEK

Golden State at Memphis

5 p.m. PST, Tuesday. TV: ESPN.

The Grizzlies have become a more well-rounded team in their second season under Coach Dave Joerger, leading the NBA in defense and ranking fifth in offensive efficiency. The latter ranking is a significant improvement from last season, when they ranked 15th. Memphis center Marc Gasol has put himself into the early discussions for most valuable player with his strong play across the board. Golden State has enjoyed increased freedom on offense under new Coach Steve Kerr, with shooting guard Klay Thompson continuing his rise into stardom alongside All-Star point guard Stephen Curry.

—Ben Bolch