INDIANAPOLIS – Tyreke Evans (right knee contusion) will sit out Saturday’s preseason opener, while fellow New Orleans point guard Jrue Holiday will be limited to a total of 10 minutes, which should mean more playing time for the Pelicans’ other backcourt members.
In a similar situation last season, Norris Cole was the starter as a fill-in for Evans. The only other natural point guard on the preseason roster is rookie Corey Webster, who is trying to break in to the NBA from New Zealand.
“We’re going to hold Tyreke out and Jrue’s going to play 10 minutes,” Alvin Gentry said. “Obviously that gives other guys an opportunity to have more playing time than they normally would.”
Other pregame notes:
- Gentry on facing the Pacers in Game 1 of preseason: “They haven’t had a lot of time in training camp to put things together (like New Orleans). They’ve got some new guys. In our situation, these guys are practically learning a whole new system, offensively and defensively. If we do well tonight, we’re not going to jump over chairs and raise our arms. But if it doesn’t go well, we’re not going to do anything either. It’s merely a step to try to get ready to play on the 27th (at Golden State in the 2015-16 opener).”