HOUSTON – New Orleans will trot out its 28th different starting lineup of the season tonight at the Toyota Center, but fortunately for the Pelicans, that won’t be because someone has to fill in at power forward for Anthony Davis. Alvin Gentry told reporters during his pregame media session that Davis (sprained right toe) will play in a key game against the Rockets. Meanwhile, New Orleans (23-35) is making a change at center, with Kendrick Perkins replacing Alexis Ajinca. It will be Perkins’ fourth start of 2015-16, but his first since he was in the first string during each of the first three games of the regular season.
“He’s fine. It flared up that night,” Gentry said of Davis’ one-game injury absence Saturday vs. Minnesota. “But he feels fine and had a good practice. He’ll go.”
Other notes from pregame in Houston:
Gentry on Ajinca, who has had difficulty throughout his New Orleans career in staying out of foul trouble, particularly in first quarters as a starter: “It doesn’t matter whether he’s a starter or not a starter, he’s going to have to learn to play the game without fouling. That’s going to become important. We can’t play him in any situation where two minutes in, or three minutes in, he’s got two fouls. He’s got to learn to play without doing that.” …
Gentry on the importance to both teams of Wednesday’s matchup: “Obviously with (the Rockets), they’re in the playoffs right now. It’s as important for them as it is for us to try to climb our way into the playoffs. At this stage, when you’re 5 through 10 in the West, you still feel like you’ve still got an opportunity to be one of those eight teams. So every game becomes important, really.”
