New Orleans (25-22) will face one of its toughest challenges of the season Monday, when it hosts the Atlanta Hawks, one of the NBA’s premier teams, in the Smoothie King Center. Fortunately for the Pelicans, they will have one of the league’s premier players back in uniform tonight.

After missing Friday’s win over the Los Angeles Clippers, All-Star power forward Anthony Davis told reporters that he will play vs. Atlanta. The Hawks have won 19 games in a row – the longest winning streak by any team in 2014-15 – and are 33-2 since beating the Pelicans on the day after Thanksgiving.

“I feel good. I’m ready to go,” Davis said after Monday morning’s shootaround. “We’ve got great trainers that know what they’re doing to get me back on the floor. I’m ready to go.”

Davis sustained a strained groin injury during Wednesday’s defeat to Denver, although he did return in the fourth quarter vs. the Nuggets. He fully participated Sunday in practice in Metairie, paving the way for him to be back on the floor. Davis said he hoped to get to the point where he would not have any reservations physically about being able to play the way he normally does. The 6-foot-10 star is one of the NBA’s most athletic big men, who often overwhelms opponents by outquicking them or outhustling them for rebounds.

“You don’t want to have any second thoughts going through your head, especially when you’re playing a team like this,” Davis said of facing Atlanta. “If you’re going to be on the floor, you have to go out and give it your all. I don’t want to play scared… (It was a matter of) just being able to move and play how I play, some of the things I do. A couple days I’ve been working with the trainers, just trying to get back right and do the things I do.”

Davis praised the Hawks, who’ve modeled their style of play somewhat after the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs. Atlanta Coach Mike Budenholzer was a longtime assistant under Gregg Popovich in the Alamo City.

“They don’t care who scores. They’re moving the ball, playing together,” Davis said. “All of their players are capable of scoring and can shoot. Kyle Korver’s playing out of his mind. Defending, executing, guarding that paint will give us a good chance to win.

“We’re just going to do what we do: Play hard, defend, execute our offense, try to come out with the win. We know everyone on (the Hawks) is playing well and at a high level. We’re just trying to focus on us and what we have to do to get the win. I feel good, ready to get back on the floor with my team.”