Coach: Pelicans F Davis will play Friday against Pacers

New Orleans forward Anthony Davis will play in Friday's game at Indiana, Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry confirmed Thursday. In the final game before the All-Star break on Feb. 14, Davis left the Pelicans' victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder with a shoulder contusion.

Davis played five minutes in the All-Star Game for Team LeBron and scored five points before taking himself out of the game as a precaution. Davis, who requested a trade last month, is averaging 28.1 points, 12.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.5 blocked shots per game this season.

The NBA has denied reports that the league threatened to fine the Pelicans $100,000 per game if the team chooses to sit a healthy Davis. The New York Times reported Tuesday that acting general manager Danny Ferry and the Pelicans are trying to convince the league to rethink its stance about forcing them to play Davis.

The NBA ruled that sitting him would go directly against competitive balance rules designed to protect the integrity of the game. The Pelicans are in a tough situation. By playing Davis they might win a few more games, but the risk of Davis being injured -- and losing trade value -- would be a disaster for both sides. By sitting him they likely lose games, fan support and gate receipts.

--Field Level Media

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)