Eric Gordon Planning Return to Action Tonight

It’s been three months since Eric Gordon last suited up for the New Orleans due to a knee injury, but he plans to make his return to tonight. Per the Times-Picayune: “I’m looking forward to playing (today), and that’s just really what I’m looking for. For sure,’ Gordon said after Tuesday’s full-contact practice, his second in a week. ‘It’s an overall decision. Like I’ve told a lot of people, it’s an overall decision. I practiced today, and I felt fine. I’m ready to move forward into playing.’ Gordon last played Jan. 4 in a home game against the Philadelphia 76ers, nine days after the Dec. 26 season opener, his only other game and one in which Gordon hit the winning shot in the final seconds against the Phoenix Suns. Initially, Gordon was sidelined with what was termed a bone bruise — an injury he said was bothersome before the Dec. 14 trade with the Los Angeles Clippers that brought him, center Chris Kaman, forward Al-Farouq Aminu and a first-round draft choice in exchange for Chris Paul. On Feb. 14, when the prescribed ‘rest’ didn’t alleviate Gordon’s pain or swelling, physicians removed loose cartilage during an arthroscopic procedure on the knee, necessitating rehabilitation that has kept him out of the lineup. […] Hornets Coach Monty Williams was more cautious in his assessment of Gordon’s chances of playing tonight against the Nuggets, despite Gordon’s pronouncement he was fit and would play. ‘We’ll see,’ Williams said. ‘He had a good practice today, and I hate to give you guys bad information — but he looked good in practice. But it’s always the next day whether or not he feels sore. He has been feeling good after his workouts, but today was the first time he got up and down. He was Eric Gordon. Explosive. Knocking down shots. A little rusty, but that kind of explosion, you don’t see it on everybody. It may take him a few games to get in shape when he does start playing, but we’ll see (this) morning.'”