PHOENIX – Barring an unforeseen positive development in the time leading up to tip-off at Talking Stick Resort Arena, Tyreke Evans probably will not make his 2015-16 regular season debut Wednesday, according to Pelicans Coach Alvin Gentry.”I would say we’re probably leaning (toward) not playing, unless he comes in (to the locker room) and says something amazing happened in warmups,” Gentry said. “We’re just not going to take that risk, until we know that he’s absolutely ready to go.”During pregame, it was announced that Tyson Chandler (illness) will not play for Phoenix, resulting in Alex Len moving into the starting center role. Suns point guard Eric Bledsoe (knee) is a game-time decision.
Pregrame:
Per Pelicans General Manager Dell Demps:
Prior to tonight’s game against the Phoenix Suns, the New Orleans Pelicans activated guard Tyreke Evans.
New Orleans’ active roster stands at 13.
Shootaround- Tyreke Evans noted after Tuesday’s practice that he expects to be able to play at some point during New Orleans’ three-game Western road trip that includes stops in Phoenix, Los Angeles and Utah. Whether Evans (right knee surgery in October) makes his 2015-16 regular season debut on Thanksgiving Eve against the Suns remains to be seen; Alvin Gentry termed Evans a game-time decision after this morning’s shootaround in Talking Stick Resort Arena.
“We’re going to have him warm up and see,” Gentry said of Evans’ status for Wednesday vs. Phoenix. “If it’s not 100 percent, if he doesn’t think he can go, he won’t go. So we won’t know until game time.”
“It’s definitely going to happen real soon,” Evans said Tuesday of playing in his first game. “I feel confident that my knee is getting stronger, just from the surgery and the time off.”
