The New Orleans Pelicans hope to get starting point guard Elfrid Payton back from a sprained right ankle when they host his former team Saturday night.
The Pelicans are 1-5 without Payton, who left the Phoenix Suns to join them as a free agent during the summer.
New Orleans won its last game, edging visiting Chicago 07-98 on Wednesday night, but before that they went winless during a five-game road trip while Payton was sidelined.
Coach Alvin Gentry said after practice Friday that Payton would be a game-time decision.
Earlier in the week, New Orleans targeted Saturday as the date for Payton's potential return and he has continued to make progress.