New Orleans Pelicans point guard Elfrid Payton could make his return to the starting lineup after missing the last nine games after being listed as questionable for Friday's game against the New York Knicks. The newly signed point man was elated at the possibility of rejoining his teammates after suffering an ankle injury late last month against the Utah Jazz.
“Super excited,” said Payton, according to Jim Eichenhofer of Pelicans.com. “I feel like we were in such a good rhythm before I went out. Just trying to get that back.”
The Pelicans were off to a brilliant 4-0 start before Payton suffered his injury 16 minutes into their fifth game of the season.
Backcourt partner Jrue Holiday has missed Payton, who was targeting Friday's matchup against the Knicks for his return.
“My whole life I’ve been a combo guard,” said Holiday. “To have him back and take over the quote-unquote point guard position, it’s huge, because he’s really good at it, the way he can get into the paint and see things in the paint.”
Elfrid Payton has fit nicely into this Pelicans team, much like Rajon Rondo did last season as a one-year signing. The Louisiana native posted 11.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.4 assists through five games, allowing Holiday to maintain his aggressiveness as a scoring guard while feeding off a newfound partnership with Anthony Davis and Nikola Mirotic.
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