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Evans, Asik return for playoff-hopeful Pelicans

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The playoff-hopeful New Orleans Pelicans will have both Tyreke Evans and Omer Asik back for Wednesday's game against the Houston Rockets

Asik has missed the past two games with a calf strain while Evans missed Sunday's contest due to a left ankle sprain.  

Evans is a crucial piece for the Pelicans with regular point guard Jrue Holiday out indefinitely. He's averaging 16.5 points and 6.4 assists per game, often as the primary facilitator. Asik is a needed seven-footer alongside Anthony Davis, and is second on the team in rebounds at 10 per game. 

The Pelicans have lost three in a row without both players, fading fast from the playoff picture, and now 3.5 games behind the No. 8 seed Oklahoma City Thunder in the West.

Forward Ryan Anderson said during Pelicans' shootaround Wednesday that he is making progress with his sprained knee and hopes to be game-ready in about a week. Anderson has missed the last 15 games with an MCL sprain.

The Rockets will have All-Star center Dwight Howard back for the first time since late January. He missed 26 games with a knee injury.

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