MEMPHIS – New Orleans four-time All-Star forward Anthony Davis fully participated in Wednesday’s shootaround at FedEx Forum and said he’ll play in the team’s 2017-18 season opener. The Pelicans will need everyone available tonight, because with five players ruled out due to injury or illness, they’re down to 10 full-fledged roster players (that excludes two-way contracts) to begin the 82-game regular season.
In addition to longer-term absences for Solomon Hill (hamstring), Omer Asik (illness) and Frank Jackson (foot), Rajon Rondo (core muscle) and Alexis Ajinca (knee) are recent additions to the group of New Orleans injuries.
New Orleans – which broke a five-game losing skid in Memphis' arena with a February win last season – is expected to start Jrue Holiday and E’Twaun Moore in the backcourt, with Dante Cunningham, Davis and DeMarcus Cousins in the frontcourt.