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UPDATE: Favors was supposed to be back tonight, but he’ll remain out of the lineup, per Gentry.
#Pelicans Head Coach Alvin Gentry says Derrick Favors won’t play tonight in Milwaukee.
— Daniel Sallerson (@dsallerson) December 11, 2019
New Orleans Pelicans PF/C Derrick Favors plans to return to the lineup Wednesday vs. the Milwaukee Bucks.
Alvin Gentry said Derrick Favors practiced today and the plan is for him to play tomorrow night at Milwaukee
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 10, 2019
Favors returned to practice with the team Tuesday and is on track to return to the lineup, which is good news for New Orleans, which desperately needs his size down low. Favors has been away from the team due to personal reasons since Nov. 16, missing the past 12 games.
Fantasy Basketball Analysis: New Orleans Pelicans PF/C Derrick Favors
In season-long, if Favors is on the waiver wire, scoop him up. He should be inserted back into the starting lineup and I can’t see any reason why he’d be limited in minutes. The Pelicans have been awful defending the interior — and in general — so getting an experienced big man like Favors back should help. Prior to leaving the team, Favors posted a 20-20 game vs. the Clippers, so he was just about hitting his stride.
For DFS, we’ll have to see what his price is, but this isn’t a great matchup vs. the Bucks, who enter Wednesday’s game on a 15-game winning streak, and one of the top defensive teams in the NBA. This directly impacts Jahlil Okafor, who should return to the bench, though Alvin Gentry may go with a more traditional lineup when Favors is back. Kenrich Williams and Jaxson Hayes should also see less playing time.