Given the New Orleans Pelicans’ upcoming schedule, featuring three games in the next four days, it may not be the most ideal time to try to play through an injury, but Tyreke Evans is giving it a shot, starting Saturday vs. Portland (6 p.m. Central, Fox Sports New Orleans). The team’s starting shooting guard said at morning shootaround that he plans to be in uniform tonight, despite a right knee bruise.
“It’s been swelling up pretty bad after some games, but it really kind of got me on the road (in Houston, where the Pelicans won Thursday without him),” Evans said. “I just have to keep getting ice and treatment. Just trying to take care of it and get it right.”
Evans, who has appeared in 24 of New Orleans’ 25 games, sustained the injury during Tuesday’s victory over Utah, when he bumped knees with Anthony Davis. Doctors advised Evans to sit out Thursday.
“My knee has been bothering me really all season, I just hadn’t said anything,” Evans said. “I got an MRI and (doctors) said it was a bone bruise. I’ll see how I feel tonight. I still feel the pain when I push off, but I think I can get out there (and play).”
New Orleans (13-12) is in eighth place in the Western Conference but will need to continue to add to their two-game winning streak to remain there. On Sunday the Pelicans play at Oklahoma City, followed by a Tuesday game at Indiana. Evans will be monitoring his knee’s progress to determine whether he’ll be able to keep playing during a three-games-in-four-days stretch.
“For me, I don’t want to play tonight and then have to sit out more games,” he said. “I will just see how I feel after the game. If I feel like I can go tomorrow, I’m going to (play). If not, I’ll see what’s the problem.”
Other notes from Saturday’s shootaround:
- Portland did not hold shootaround, because it played Friday at San Antonio, winning in triple overtime. The Trail Blazers are the second straight opponent for the Pelicans coming off a road overtime game the previous night. Houston went to overtime at Denver on Wednesday, then hosted New Orleans the next night. Asked specifically about the strategy of facing an opponent coming off a triple-OT game, a grinning Davis said, “Run ‘em. That’s what we’ve got to try to do. Triple overtime, we know they’re probably a little winded, a little tired. Probably got in a little later than expected. We’ve got to try to use that to our advantage.”
- Davis on Portland power forward LaMarcus Aldridge: “He’s a great player. Very, very skilled. He definitely brings a challenge with his ability to score. He’s got a lot of moves in the post, being able to shoot. I have to hustle more, so he doesn’t get those easy looks.”