After missing much of his first two seasons in New Orleans with a nagging right knee injury, Gordon has played in 40 of New Orleans' 43 games this season, demonstrating a reliability previously unseen since he recieved a four-year, $58 million contract in July 2012.

Gordon has averaged nearly 16 points per game. Two games ago, he helped the Pelicans pull out a comeback victory in Detroit, hitting a clutch 3-pointer inside the final four minutes and later spinning into the lane to sink a game-winning floater in the final seconds.

Still, making the argument that Gordon's production is living up to his salary is anything but a slam dunk, even for Gordon himself.

"Individually, I think I can give more, do more," Gordon said after practice Monday, one day after his 14 points helped the Pelicans win for the third time in four games. "People here think I should be this big-time 20-point (per game) scorer. This is more of a team game here, this system here. It's a different adjustment. For me, now it's all about playing as many games as possible and getting my body back to being used to playing an 82-game season, because I haven't had that in almost two to three years now."

The Pelicans have declined to discuss whether they've discussed trade proposals involving Gordon, but Gordon has fielded numerous questions recently regarding speculation that New Orleans is looking to unload the remainder of his hefty contract. At this point, Gordon isn't really sure what to think, so he's trying not to dwell on what might happen by the Feb. 20 NBA trading deadline.

"It would be great to have that security to know if you're going to be here or not," Gordon said. "At the end of the day, I can't worry about that. All I can do is worry about trying to win."

At 18-25, and with forward Ryan Anderson and point guard Jrue Holiday sidelined indefinitely with injuries, New Orleans looks like a long-shot to rally into playoff contention this season. But the Pelicans are getting a chance to learn more about the assets they have in the backcourt.

Anderson and Holiday were averaging about 34 points combined, so in their absence, demands have increased on Gordon, as well as reserve shooting guard Tyreke Evans, to help forward Anthony Davis provide offense. Meanwhile, Brian Roberts has been elevated to starting point guard and Austin Rivers is seeing more playing time.

Evans, acquired last offseason from Sacramento in a three-team trade, is averaging 13 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists.

Roberts, now in his second NBA season after starting his pro career in Europe, has scored in double figures in six of seven games. Rivers, drafted 10th overall by New Orleans in 2012, has scored in double figures in a reserve role in two of his last three games.

Pelicans coach Monty Williams said the nine games since Holiday went out with a stress fracture in his right tibia is too small a sample size to for him to properly evaluate how far Roberts and Rivers have come.

"I do see signs, though," Williams said. "I see signs of solid play from Brian. Austin's certainly gotten better with more time. We just have to temper everything."


PEKOVIC FOR ALL STAR?


The idea of Nikola Pekovic making the Western Conference All-Star team is music to the Minnesota Timberwolves' ears.

The Wolves have started a campaign to get their big center into his first All-Star game. The Wolves sent out a vinyl album featuring the "Bruise Brothers," which is the nickname for their physical duo of Pekovic and Kevin Love. Fans voted Love a starter for the West last week, thanks in large part to a strong push from the team's public relations department to get out the vote.

Now the Wolves will find out if they can be as influential with conference coaches. The coaches vote on the reserves for the game, which will be played in New Orleans on Feb. 16. After signing a five-year, $60 million contract this summer, Pekovic is averaging a career-high 18.4 points and 9.3 rebounds this season. He's been even better over the last six weeks, averaging 20.8 points and 9.8 boards while topping 30 points in a game three times.

The album cover features an artist's rendering of Pekovic and Love dressed as the famed Blues Brothers and labeled "All-Star Edition." Some of the songs on Pekovic's side of the album include "It was only a Pek" and "I'm Still Learning English." One track is written in Serbian and loosely translated to read "Meat Is the Best."

The package sent to coaches also includes a poster with many of Pekovic's accomplishments — he leads the league in second-chance points and points in the paint — and touts he and Love as one of the NBA's "best duets." It also includes a letter from Wolves President Flip Saunders.


D.J.'S RUN


The Chicago Bulls had an obvious need at point guard, with Derrick Rose and Kirk Hinrich in and out of the lineup for injury.

And D.J. Augustin, who was a former first-round pick and starting point guard, was waived by the Toronto Raptors and had a need himself.

Few saw both scenarios coming together to form what has become one of the more productive midseason moves of this year, especially because the marriage was born out of a certain level of desperation on both sides.  

"D.J. was a huge pick up for us," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "We had a need with Derrick Rose and Kirk Hinrich going down and obviously he had a need as well. It was good for him and it has been great for us."

Augustin had an immediate effect with the Bulls, even though he was thrust into a tough situation. One reason for that is Augustin's superb play in the screen-and-roll since joining Chicago, which is a team that functions primarily in halfcourt sets.

Just over 40 percent of Augustin's offensive production comes from screen-and-roll sets, and he gets with 0.968 points per possession in 124 such scenarios, which rates as excellent, according to Synergy Sports. Augustin is almost as good in spot-up and hand-off situations.

He's helped by working with a big men Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer and Taj Gibson, who demand attention, but Augustin is also 44.6 percent from the 3-point line in January and making teams respect him over the top of the screen.

Augustin has had a hot January, producing 16.0 points and 6.3 assists in the month, and leading a Bulls effort that has continued to succeed since the Luol Deng trade.


CARMELO'S WIFE SAYS IT


Former MTV veejay and wife of Knicks superstar Carmelo Anthony believes her husband will choose to stay in New York after he tests free agency this offseason.

From ESPN: "I definitely think he will stay," La La Anthony said in an interview with Bravo TV's 'Watch What Happens Live.' "I know that he wants to stay, and I support him wherever he wants to go.

"Listen, I used to live in Denver with him. If I can live in Denver, I can live anywhere. I just want him to be happy."

Her husband has been linked to several teams, including the Chicago Bulls , Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers, but the Knicks will be able to offer him more money this summer than any other potential team.

During the interview, Carmelo's wife also commented about the perceived notion that she was the driving force behind Anthony's decision to leave Denver for New York.

Contributors: DeAntae Prince, The Associated Press