Davis returns with 33 points in Pelicans' last exhibition
The New Orleans Pelicans would have been happy just seeing Anthony Davis on the court.
The way he played should make them ecstatic.
The star forward returned sooner than expected from a sprained right ankle and had 33 points, 13 rebounds and four assists' in the Pelicans' 114-111 overtime loss in Orlando on Thursday night.
Davis was hurt Oct. 12 during a preseason game against Houston in China and the Pelicans said he was expected back in 10 days to two weeks, a timeline that could have meant missing the regular-season opener next Wednesday.
But Davis made it back in about a week, returning to practice Wednesday and dominating right from the start of Thursday's game. He scored 16 points in 9 minutes of the first quarter as the Pelicans raced to a 38-22 lead. It would grow to 23 later in the game before Orlando rallied, then pulled it out in OT after rookie Buddy Hield missed a chance to win it for New Orleans before the regulation buzzer.
Terrence Jones added 20 points for the Pelicans, who finished 1-4.
Evan Fournier scored 22 points as the Magic avoided a winless preseason. Serge Ibaka added 18.
