NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Julius Randle is in the lineup for the Los Angeles Lakers against the New Orleans Pelicans following a three-game absence.
Randle has been sidelined by a hip pointer that occurred in practice a little more than a week ago. He briefly tried to play through it before missing several games. Lakers coach Luke Walton announced Randle’s return for the game Tuesday night.
Now in his third NBA campaign out of Kentucky, Randle has started 15 games this season, averaging 13.3 points and 8.1 rebounds.
He returns to a Lakers squad trying to avoid falling below .500 and beat New Orleans for the second time this season.
Jrue Holiday was not in the Pelicans’ lineup when the teams last played Nov. 12. He has since returned.
New Orleans also has signed former Lakers forward Anthony Brown since the last meeting.
