New Orleans Pelicans star ahead Brandon Ingram underwent an MRI that exposed a bone contusion in his left knee, the crew introduced Friday morning. He’ll be re-evaluated in two weeks, and “further updates will likely be appropriately offered.”
Ingram left the Pelicans’ 121-106 loss to the Orlando Magic on Thursday night time after hyperextending his knee within the third quarter whereas making an attempt to defend Orlando guard Jalen Suggs.
Brandon Ingram was helped to the locker room after knee harm
Hope he is okay 🙏 pic.twitter.com/45WMMjNEfE
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 22, 2024
Ingram has performed 63 video games this season, averaging 20.9 factors, 5.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists. Whereas Ingram’s scoring numbers are the bottom they’ve been in his 5 seasons with the Pelicans after arriving within the 2019 blockbuster commerce for Anthony Davis, his affect as a playmaker and much-improved defender has been important to New Orleans having probably the most profitable seasons in franchise historical past. After their loss to Orlando, the Pelicans maintain the Western Convention’s No. 5 seed with a 42-27 file.
Whereas dropping Ingram for at the very least two weeks will likely be a giant blow, the Pelicans ought to be relieved the harm isn’t extra critical. In keeping with the crew’s timetable, Ingram will likely be re-evaluated on April 5, greater than two weeks earlier than the primary spherical of the playoffs begins and 11 days earlier than the Play-In Match, ought to the Pelicans slip under the No. 6 seed.
Ingram’s absence, nevertheless lengthy, will nonetheless considerably affect a heated West playoff race. At the moment, the fourth-seeded LA Clippers and the eighth-seeded Sacramento Kings are separated by solely 3 1/2 video games. New Orleans is simply 1 1/2 video games behind the Clippers for fourth but additionally simply 1 1/2 video games forward of the seventh-placed Phoenix Suns for a top-six spot. The primary objective for New Orleans with out Ingram will likely be sustaining its place among the many prime six groups within the West to keep away from getting into the Play-In Match for the third yr in a row.
Pelicans video games over the following two weeks:
3/22 at Miami3/24 at Detroit3/26 vs OKC3/28 vs Milwaukee3/30 vs Boston4/1 vs Phoenix4/3 vs Orlando4/5 vs San Antonio
— Will Guillory (@WillGuillory) March 22, 2024
With out Ingram, the strain on Pels star Zion Williamson will enhance exponentially as New Orleans tries to keep up its place till its emotional chief can get again on the courtroom.
If Ingram doesn’t return this season, he’ll nonetheless be eligible to doubtlessly earn All-NBA standing regardless of not reaching the 65-game threshold. The NBA’s new 65-game rule permits gamers to be eligible in the event that they play in at the very least 63 video games whereas being obtainable for 85 % of the crew’s video games on the time of an harm. The Pelicans have performed 69 video games to date, and Ingram has performed at the very least 20 minutes in 63 of them. Ingram was eligible to signal a contract extension final summer time however selected to attend in case he earned an All-NBA spot and thus earned supermax qualification.
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(High photograph: Wendell Cruz / USA Right this moment)
