Tyreke Evans: Expected to make season debut Tuesday

Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said Monday that Evans (knee) is expected to make his season debut Tuesday against the Grizzlies, "unless something bizarre happens," Brett Dawson of the New Orleans Advocate reports.

Analysis:

The Pelicans are officially listing Evans as questionable, which counts as an upgrade after he received the doubtful designation heading into both of the team's previous two games. It sounds like Evans will be a full participant in Tuesday's morning shootaround, but official verification of his availability may not come until after pregame warmups. The Pelicans backcourt could be in flux Tuesday, as the team opens a back-to-back set and may consider resting starting point guard Jrue Holiday, who has typically sat out one game of back-to-back sets throughout the season. If Holiday ends up sitting out Tuesday's contest, Evans or Norris Cole (ankle) who is also on tap to make his season debut, could enter the starting lineup, but neither player should be counted on to play heavy minutes. Because of the extensive time he missed, Evans will likely see his workload restricted in the early going, but should see his playing time gradually increase from game to game before eventually working his way up to a steady 30-minute-per-game role.