Pelicans' Davis returns from 5-game absence vs. Pistons

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Pelicans coach Monty Williams says All-Star power forward Anthony Davis is returning from his right shoulder sprain and starting Wednesday night's game against Detroit.

Davis, who averages 23.9 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks, was hurt in the first quarter of New Orleans' victory at Miami on Feb. 21 and missed five games after that.

New Orleans won four of the five games Davis missed and entered Wednesday night's games one game behind Oklahoma City for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Williams says Davis had ''a really good workout'' Tuesday, another Wednesday morning and ''passed everything with flying colors.''

Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy says jokingly that he believes Davis' shoulder is not ''the least bit ready,'' and that letting him play is ''a major mistake.''