The New Orleans Pelicans played without superstar big man Anthony Davis on Monday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Davis was a late scratch due to an illness he's dealing with.

Entering Monday, the Pelicans' history of playing without Anthony Davis wasn't good. New Orleans hadn't won a game since Dec. 6, 2017 when AD didn't play.

That streak is now over, though, as New Orleans defeated the Timberwolves, 123-114, to end 2018 on a high note.

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Julius Randle had an Anthony Davis-type night, scoring 33 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in the Pelicans' win. All-Star guard Jrue Holiday finished with 26 points and eight assists, and Elfrid Payton posted nine points and six assists in his first game since Nov. 16. Payton under pinky surgery in November.

This is a big win for the Pelicans, who entered Monday with a record of 16-21. After starting the season 4-0, New Orleans has been struggling even with Anthony Davis putting up tremendous numbers. Davis is averaging 28.5 points, 13.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game on the season and shooting 50.7 percent from the field, 32.3 percent from the 3-point line and 80.3 percent from the free-throw line.

It seems like this whole season hasn't even been about the Pelicans, though. All the national media cares about right now is Davis' future with the team. AD has been linked to joining the Los Angeles Lakers since he and LeBron James have the same agent. New Orleans can offer Davis the supermax extension in 2019. If The Brow declines it, the Pelicans might be in danger of losing Davis.

For the record, Davis has consistently said he wants to stay in The Big Easy. Only time will tell if that is truly the case.