PHILADELPHIA – The status of New Orleans’ starting point guard and power forward for Friday’s game against the 76ers will be determined later today, as both Jrue Holiday (right ankle inflammation) and Anthony Davis (toe) have been deemed game-time decisions.
“I don’t know yet. I’m not sure,” Davis said when asked if he’ll play tonight. After Thursday’s practice, which Holiday sat out due to his injury, he said he was also taking a wait-and-see approach to potentially playing against his former NBA team, Philadelphia.
The two key players have only missed one game apiece due to injury this season. Holiday sat out Wednesday’s game at Detroit after he had appeared in the first 37 games. Davis was sidelined Dec. 14 vs. Golden State, an overtime defeat to the Warriors.
If Holiday is unable to play, Tyreke Evans started in his place against the Pistons on Wednesday, joining Eric Gordon, Dante Cunningham, Davis and Omer Asik in the first unit. If Davis is out, it’s uncertain who would take his place, but Ryan Anderson was the fill-in starter Dec. 14 and a likely option to slide into the power forward spot.
“We just have to tell guys to take their shots and be confident, to play the same way if they were (playing),” Evans said on how the Pelicans (19-19) must adjust if Holiday and Davis are unable to play. “Just go out there and take open shots. (The 76ers) help a lot, so if you have the shot, take it and knock it down.”