Pelicans big man Larry Nance Jr. to miss play-in game due to ankle injury

New Orleans Pelicans big man Larry Nance Jr. won’t be available for tonight’s play-in game against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to left ankle soreness, the team announced (via Twitter).

Head coach Willie Green told reporters prior to the game that Nance would test his ankle in warmups to see how it responded, tweets Andrew Lopez of ESPN, though apparently those tests did not go so hot.

Nance was added to the injury report on Tuesday, with New Orleans listing him as questionable. He was able to play 17 minutes in Sunday’s regular-season finale.

Nance was one of the Pelicans’ most reliable bench players this season, averaging 6.8 points and 5.4 rebounds in 65 games. His absence could lead to more minutes for fourth-year center Jaxson Hayes.

If New Orleans wins defeats the Thunder on Wednesday night, Nance will have two more days to recover before the next play-in contest (set for Friday at Minnesota). Another victory would put the team in a playoff series against the Nuggets that would begin Sunday night.

The Pelicans are already short-handed without Jose Alvarado, who is out with a right tibial stress reaction, and Zion Williamson, who has not played since early January due to a strained right hamstring.

Earlier on Wednesday, Nance responded to rumors that the organization is upset with Williamson over his prolonged absence.

“No one in our locker room is looking at Z any type of way,” Nance tweeted. “We’re with him every step of his rehab, and support his process, physically AND mentally! Don’t listen to people saying things just to get views!!”