The New Orleans Pelicans have found themselves in a battle in the Western Conference to avoid the NBA Play-In Tournament. Their loss to the Phoenix Suns on Monday night put them in some peril, as they are now only one game ahead of them for the final spot outside of the Play-In.
New Orleans has found themselves in this position because they have lost three out of their last four games. One of their best players, forward Brandon Ingram, has been absent from the lineup during that stretch.
The Pelicans were able to win the first two games that Ingram missed because of a bone bruise on his knee, but have fallen on tough times since. Luckily for New Orleans, it sounds like they won’t be without Ingram for much longer.
During an appearance on Run It Back on FanDuel TV, NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium provided a positive update on Ingram’s status. Charania revealed that Ingram could be back on the court by next week for the Pelicans.
“Brandon Ingram is going to be reevaluated at the end of the week, that’ll be the 2-week mark, and the hope is by that 3-week mark next week, he’s going to be back in the lineup,” Charania said during his appearance.
New Orleans has been excellent with Ingram in the lineup this season, going 38-25. Without him, they have gone 7-5, but that winning record won’t be intact much longer given their recent form without him in the mix.
Getting Ingram back next week would likely give him two or three games to get back into a groove before the NBA Play-In Tournament begins. The Pelicans are certainly hoping to avoid that but will have their work cut out for them.
They will be facing off against at least the Orlando Magic, Suns and potentially the Sacramento Kings without Ingram in the lineup. Those are three teams who are jockeying for position in their respective conferences all looking to avoid a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
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