New Orleans Pelicans point guard Elfrid Payton is set to miss Wednesday's game versus the Chicago Bulls but could return on Saturday to face his former team, the Phoenix Suns.
Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry confirmed this development to Scott Kushner of The Advocate, saying that it's possible for the former lottery pick to see action against the Suns after he participated in Tuesday's practice drills.
“I think Saturday (against the Phoenix Suns) is a possibility,” Gentry said. “We just have to see. He did stuff for the first time (Tuesday) and it was pretty good, but he would have to come in tomorrow and show a lot more improvements as being able to stop, turn and plant and all of those things.”
Payton has featured in only five games after sustaining an ankle sprain during the Pelicans' meeting with the Utah Jazz. He has missed the team's past five matches now, though he has made significant progress two weeks after his injury.
The 24-year-old guard has started in all the games he has played in for New Orleans and is actually playing well, averaging 11.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.4 assists. He has been efficient as well, shooting 50.0 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from 3-point territory.
The Orlando Magic selected Payton with the 10th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft. He spent three and a half seasons with the Magic before being traded to the Suns last year. He played 19 games for Phoenix in the 2017-18 season, putting up 11.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.4 assists.
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