The Pelicans will use point guard Jrue Holiday for less than 30 minutes in his first game, tweets Justin Verrier of ESPN.com. Coach Alvin Gentry originally said 35 minutes was the limit, but he revised that down today. Holiday will return to the court Friday after taking a leave of absence to care for his ailing wife.
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- The Rockets will welcome injured point guard Patrick Beverley back Thursday, posts Calvin Watkins on ESPN Now. Beverley, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee October 25th, will immediately be inserted into the starting lineup.
- The Rockets are still trying to set a firm rotation after several offseason changes, writes Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. The latest move saw Sam Dekker being used as a backup at both forward slots Monday, reducing the minutes for K.J. McDaniels. More changes will come when Beverley is ready. “We’re still trying to hunt and peck a little bit, try to whittle down the rotation,” said coach Mike D’Antoni. “… Then, we’ll have to put Pat in and see how that changes things up. It’ll be a little bit of a process for a couple, three weeks and then we’ll settle in. Obviously, Pat, it will take him a week or so to get the rust off. But he’ll pick up 30 minutes. That’s a big chunk of playing time he’ll be good at.”
- Grizzlies rookie Deyonta Davis has already cracked the rotation sooner than expected and he may be ready to earn more playing time, suggests Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal. Davis had the team’s highest plus-minus rating in Monday’s win at Utah and is quickly making an impression on his veteran teammates. “I like him very much. His upside is tremendous,” Marc Gasol said. “He cannot be satisfied with one play or one quarter or one season. He’s got to be more and more. He’s got to be hungry. That’s the mindset he’s got to have and I’m going to help him. He can help me win and I’m going to help him be better.”