New Orleans Pelicans center Omer Asik, forward Luke Babbitt will make their debuts vs. Warriors

New Orleans Pelicans starting center Omer Asik and small forward Luke Babbitt are  set to make their debuts on Saturday night after missing the first two games with injuries.
Alvin Gentry said in his pregame news conference that Asik and Babbitt will play and without any possible minute restrictions.
''Obviously coming into the game where it's going to be the first time they've played for a while,'' Gentry said. ''We're not going to be stupid about it and try to play them 30 minutes.


''You're talking about a guy (Omer) that started for us most of last year, and then Luke obviously started some games last year. It's just a situation where we've got to get to the point where we're healthy enought that we can be consistent in where we're playing guys and moving guys back to their true positions.''

Asik has been sidelined since Oct. 8 with a strained right calf. Without him, the Pelicans have struggled to effectively rebound. In In their 112-94 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, the Pelicans were outrebounded 51-39. The Warriors also outrebounded the Pelicans, 56-33, during Tuesday's opening night.
Last season, Asik ranked fifth in the NBA in rebounding percentage at 21.4.

Babbitt suffered a strained left hamstring in the Oct. 15 preseason game against the Chicago Bulls and had a slow recovery. He was put on the active list for Tuesday's opener against the Warriors, but was unable to play because of tightness in his hamstring.
Forward Quincy Pondexter (knee), guards Tyreke Evans (right knee surgery) and Norris Cole (left ankle sprain) remain on the injured list.(NBA standing)