Roughly two hours prior to tip-off Wednesday, the Pelicans upgraded Anthony Davis (right quad contusion) to “expected to play” from probable on the official injury report. Tyreke Evans (left ankle sprain) also is expected to play, after Evans had earlier been listed as questionable.
Other notes from pregame:
The rosters were announced only a couple hours earlier, but New Orleans rookie Buddy Hield already has his squad’s lineup just about memorized. Hield ran down the names Wednesday of whom he’ll play with on Feb. 17, when he suits up for the “World” team during the 2017 NBA Rising Stars Challenge.