Pelicans star Anthony Davis said after shootaround that he expects to return to the lineup Friday night against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Davis sat out Wednesday night's loss to the Orlando Magic because of a thigh injury. He was injured Monday against the Boston Celtics and complained of tightness the day after.
Davis is averaging 30.5 points, 11.2 rebounds and a league-leading 2.91 blocks this season.
New Orleans also is expected to have point guard Jrue Holiday back Friday night.
The guard has spent the past three months on leave because his wife, retired international soccer star Lauren Holiday, needed brain surgery to remove a benign tumor last month, just weeks after giving birth to their first child, a daughter.