Indianapolis, IN (SportsNetwork.com) - The Indiana Pacers welcome back two familiar faces on Friday, with forward David West and guard C.J. Watson set to make their season debuts.
Head coach Frank Vogel made the announcement at Friday's shootaround. Neither player will be on a minutes restriction.
West (sprained right ankle) and Watson (bruised right foot) both missed the first 15 games of the regular season. West's return, in particular, should spark the 6-9 Pacers.
"I'm just going to play," said West, who will be inserted into the starting lineup immediately. "I know who I am, so I'm not going to go out there and try to reinvent the wheel."
West averaged 14.0 points and 6.8 rebounds per game last season and was one of the key pieces for the regular-season Eastern Conference champion Pacers. The 11-year veteran out of Xavier holds career averages of 15.9 points and 7.2 boards.
Watson made five starts in 63 games last season, his first in Indiana after stints in Golden State, Chicago and Brooklyn. He averaged 6.6 points per game.
The Pacers are still without All-Star forward Paul George, who is expected to miss most of the season after breaking his leg this summer, while point guard George Hill (knee) has yet to play this season and center Roy Hibbert will miss his third straight game Friday with an ankle injury.
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