Alexis Ajinca (coach's decision) didn't play in Friday's 94-88 loss to the Heat.

Ajinca (coach's decision) didn't play in Friday's 94-88 loss to the Heat.

Analysis:

Ajinca had been held out of the Pelicans' previous three games while nursing a strained left calf, but he was deemed ready to go in advance of the Christmas Day tilt. Despite Ajinca's availability, coach Alvin Gentry opted not to use the 7-foot-2 Frenchman with the Heat playing a small-ball lineup for roughly half the game, as opposing center Hassan Whiteside played only 25 minutes. Though he's now healthy, it looks like Ajinca could be forced to settle for limited run most nights behind starting center Omer Asik and Anthony Davis.