Davis and the Pelicans return to New Orleans up 2-0 in their playoff series against the Trail BlazersNBAE/Getty Images
Pelicans Owner Gayle Benson said that she would "like to replicate the Blazers raucous home-court atmosphere at the Smoothie King Center." The Pelicans are playing the Trail Blazers in their opening round playoff series, and Benson said, "Portland is great, and the energy here is unbelievable. If we can get that type of energy in New Orleans, we will win every game we have. We just need to get more people in the stands." Benson also said that the "solution to filling those Smoothie King Center seats is the 'gazillion dollar question.'" Benson said, "Hopefully the playoffs will encourage people to come and we try to give them the best game day experience we can. ... The tickets are sold but we just can't get them there all of the time" (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 4/18).
SPANNING THE GLOBE: The 76ers today were announced as participants in the NBA China games in '18 against the Mavericks, and in Philadelphia, Keith Pompey notes the Sixers are "hopeful their participation in the global games will continue." With seven international players, the team is "building a global brand." The 76ers would "love to make appearances in Africa and Australia." With C Joel Embiid, a Cameroon native, and G Ben Simmons, a native of Australia, and Coach Brett Brown having "lived in Australia for 17 years," it would "make sense" why the team would want to play in those countries (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 4/18).
BACK ON THE MIC: In Oklahoma City, Berry Tramel reports Thunder announcer Brian Davis will return from a suspension for Game 2 tonight against the Jazz, after the team "sufficiently humiliated its television voice." Davis "affectionately said Russell Westbrook was 'out of his cotton-pickin' mind'" during a game against the Grizzlies and was "banished from calling Game 1 of the Thunder-Jazz playoff series." Davis is "on lockdown from the Thunder," and is not allowed to comment on the situation. It is unknown whether Davis' suspension came from Thunder Chair Clay Bennett or "from the NBA office" (OKLAHOMAN, 4/18).
