Pelicans' Monty Williams still expects Holiday to return this season

The New Orleans Pelicans' playoff hopes are fading fast, but head coach Monty Williams isn't ready to throw in the towel, specifically where long-injured point guard Jrue Holiday is concerned. 

Holiday has been out of commission due to a stress reaction in his right leg since Jan. 12, missing 34 consecutive games. But with 11 games left to play, Williams still expects him to return before the season is out. 

"I don’t think he’s going to be out for the rest of the season," Williams said Friday, according to Jim Eichenhofer of Pelicans.com. "I've watched his workouts for the past few times he’s been on the floor. He’s doing more and more. Can I give you a date? No. But, we only have so many games left. Lord willing, we’ll have a lot more after the regular season is over. But the way I’m watching him ramp up his workouts, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was back next week or so."

Williams has already drawn up a minutes plan for Holiday, should he be able to return.

"I’ve already done that, in the event that he does come back," Williams said. "Because I’m ready to have him back."

The Pelicans are 3.5 games back of the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Western Conference's eighth and final playoff seed. The Thunder announced Friday that Kevin Durant will have a third foot surgery and miss the remainder of the season. Williams refuses to believe Holiday will be resigned to the same fate.

"He looks a lot better than he did a month ago. I just don’t see Jrue sitting out for the year."