Anthony Davis Injury: Pelicans Star Suffers Leg Contusion vs. Rockets

New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis suffered a lower-leg contusion Friday. 

He was injured during the first half against the Houston Rockets and briefly returned in the third quarter before leaving for good, per the Pelicans' public relations staff on Twitter.

Thankfully for New Orleans fans, Davis told reporters Sunday morning that he expects to play against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night.

Davis suffered an injury midway through the preseason. He played just six minutes against the Rockets on Oct. 12 before going down with a sprained ankle that was expected to keep him out 10 to 15 days. 

Fortunately, he's stayed on the court since. He is also playing a career-high 37.7 minutes per game, according to Basketball-Reference.com. 

Staying healthy has been a career-long problem for Davis. The three-time All-Star has missed at least 14 games in each of his first four NBA seasons, hindering the Pelicans as they try to gain relevance in the Western Conference. 

New Orleans will rely more on backup power forward Terrence Jones if Davis is limited or forced to the bench. 

Jones doesn't have Davis' diverse skill set—there is a small handful of NBA players who do—but he's been a solid bench player in the past, averaging at least 15 points per 36 minutes over the last three seasons.

The Pelicans have not been a good team even with Davis among the league leaders in scoring (30.2 points per game) and blocks (2.8), so head coach Alvin Gentry should cut his star's minutes to minimize the physical stress on his body.