Pelicans' Jrue Holiday will play 1st game Friday night

New Orleans Pelicans general manager Dell Demps announced on Tuesday that point guard Jrue Holiday will return to the team on Thursday and is expected to play Friday night against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Holiday has missed the entire season to be with his wife, Lauren, who underwent surgery to remove a benign brain tumor last month. In September, Lauren gave birth to a healthy six-pound, 4-ounce baby girl.