The New Orleans Pelicans would have been happy just seeing Anthony Davis on the court.
The way he played should make them ecstatic.
The star forward returned sooner than expected from a sprained right ankle and had 33 points, 13 rebounds and four assists' in the Pelicans' 114-111 overtime loss in Orlando on Thursday night.
Davis was hurt Oct. 12 during a preseason game against Houston in China and the Pelicans said he was expected back in 10 days to two weeks, a timeline that could have meant missing the regular-season opener next Wednesday.