While the Oklahoma City Thunder will be playing Thursday’s preseason game without one of the NBA's biggest stars, Kevin Durant (broken foot), the New Orleans Pelicans will regain the services of one of their top players. Tyreke Evans, who excelled during the second half of last season in a starting role, will make his preseason debut in tonight’s Western Conference matchup.
“I’m going to try to go,” Evans said this morning after the Pelicans’ shootaround.
Initially projected to be out 3-5 weeks after a late-September right hamstring strain, Evans was able to accelerate that timetable.
“I healed up fast,” the sixth-year guard/forward said. “(It was a result of) me just taking care of my body, getting treatment and doing the right things I needed to, to help me get better.”
Evans will be using his game action Thursday to gauge his progress in his return from injury.
“Cutting, playing against different guys, knowing they’re going to be going hard out there,” Evans said of what he’ll be monitoring physically tonight. “(The Thunder) need other guys to step up, due to the (Kevin Durant) injury. Just see how I move laterally. I’ll be talking to Coach (Monty Williams) and see how I feel from there.”
Evans is officially listed as probable on the team’s injury report. Eric Gordon is doubtful due to lower back spasms.
Other notes from shootaround:
- Anthony Davis said one objective for the Pelicans tonight will be to limit their fouls while defending. Oklahoma City has gotten to the line often in preseason. Thunder guard Jeremy Lamb has made 25 trips to the charity stripe in three games. “They’ve got a lot of guys who can play,” Davis said of OKC. “It’s a good test for us offensively and defensively, to see where we are right now.”
- During the offseason, Durant said Davis was the “next in line” as a league MVP candidate. Davis on Durant: “He’s one of the faces of the league right now. Reigning MVP. He’s a great player and has done a lot of amazing things, (including) scoring titles, been to the playoffs numerous times, seeing all types of defenses. I definitely look at KD as one of those guys I try to do things after, especially him being 6-10 or 6-11 and do some of the things he does, is amazing.”