Slumping Pelicans get huge boost with expected return of Brandon Ingram

Ingram has been limited to 15 games this season and hasn't played since Nov. 25. The Pelicans (26-22) are 9-6 when the former No. 2 overall pick has suited up during the 2022-2023 campaign and just 17-16 when he's been off the floor.

New Orleans' recent skid has dropped them to fourth in the Western Conference, with the first-place Denver Nuggets (34-14) and second-place Memphis Grizzlies (31-16) gaining some breathing room atop the group. The Sacramento Kings (27-19) surprising season has them dreaming of their first playoff appearance since the George W. Bush administration, as they're in third, and the fourth-place Pelicans are ahead of the 13th-place Los Angeles Lakers by only four games.

While New Orleans fans are yet again stuck crossing their fingers for Zion Williamson to get (and stay) healthy, Ingram is arguably the second-best player on their team and should help them stay afloat in the playoff picture.

Prior to going down with his toe injury, the 25-year-old was shooting a lethal 46.7% from beyond the arc, while posting a 47.2% field goal percentage and 86.8% free throw percentage. The three-point field goal percentage would be by far his career best, and his field goal success rate would be his best mark since the 2018-2019 season (his final year with the Lakers).

Ingram is also averaging over 20 points per game (20.8) for the fourth straight season, as well as 5.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists per contest. Though the Pelicans still have reason to be concerned over Williamson's latest injury, most of the other Western Conference contenders have big injuries as well.

The Grizzlies just lost big man Steven Adams for three to five weeks, the Dallas Mavericks (25-24) recently saw Christian Wood go down with a thumb ailment and the Phoenix Suns (25-24) are still without Devin Booker. If Ingram can stay healthy and Williamson can come back around the February All-Star break, the Pelicans should be just fine.