Pelicans PG Payton returning to starting lineup for Monday's game

New Orleans Pelicans point guard Elfrid Payton is returning to the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves after missing six-plus weeks with a broken left pinkie. Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry made the announcement during his pregame media session. Gentry said Payton will be worked in slowly by playing six-minute intervals. Payton suffered the injury in a game against the New York Knicks on Nov. 16.

The 24-year-old Payton is averaging 9.7 points, 5.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds in six games. He broke the finger in his first game back after a nine-game absence due to a sprained ankle. Star big man Anthony Davis was pleased with the news. "He's played well for us in the games he did play," Davis said of Payton to reporters. "I think everybody is excited for him to be back in the lineup." The Pelicans hope Payton will help spark a turnaround. They were struggling with a 16-21 record entering Monday's game. "We're right on the cusp of being a great team," Payton told reporters.

"I'm excited for the potential we have, and I know we're going to figure it out. So I'm excited to see that over the next couple weeks." Meanwhile, Minnesota point guards Derrick Rose and Jeff Teague will miss the game with ankle injuries, Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau said during his pregame media availability. This will be the second straight game Rose has missed while Teague will be sitting out his eighth in a row. --Field Level Media