An extremely challenging season for the New Orleans Pelicans continues with yet another injury to a star player. Leading scorer Brandon Ingram will be out indefinitely with a low left ankle sprain, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Ingram suffered the injury in Saturday’s 119109 loss to the Oklahoma City. During the third quarter, he landed on Lu Dort’s foot while attempting a shot in the lane. Ingram fell to the court in pain and was helped to the locker room by teammates.
Ingram just returned to the lineup on Thursday after missing six games with foot tendonitis. At the time he left Saturday’s game, Ingram had scored five points with three assists.For the season, he is averaging 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists, while shooting 37% on 3-pointers.
Ingram’s ankle sprain is the latest injury the Pelicans have had to deal with during this season.
Zion Williamson has only played in six games due to a hamstring injury and is expected to be out until mid-December. Trey Murphy III began the season with a strained right hamstring and has played in nine games. Dejounte Murray recently returned to the lineup after fracturing his left hand in the season opener.
Herbert Jones suffered a right shoulder strain and tear in his rotator cuff in early November and CJ McCollum sustained a right adductor strain, keeping both players out for multiple weeks.
In the bigger picture for New Orleans. Ingram’s injury might affect the team’s ability to trade him. Ingram is in the final year of his five-year contract and hasn’t been able to reach an agreement with the Pelicans on an extension. Last week, he changed agents, signing with Rich Paul’s Klutch Sports Group.
Reports have also suggested that Ingram would prefer to play for a playoff contender. He’s been linked to the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Lakers in recent trade rumors.