New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram will not return to Thursday’s game against the Chicago Bulls after suffering a right ankle sprain.
The All-Star forward suffered the injury during the third quarter and quickly motioned to the bench for a substitution. The Pelicans were forced to call a timeout to pull Ingram from the game. While the team tried to re-tape his ankle and put him back in, the pain kept Ingram from being able to stay in the game.
Ingram has played in 47 of the team’s 52 games this season, but injuries have bothered him in recent years. The Pelicans have battled through injuries to several key players this season, but were finally starting to get healthy with the All-Star Break approaching. If Ingram misses any time, Josh Hart and E’Twaun Moore would see more minutes.
The Pelicans are off on Friday before playing the Indiana Pacers on Saturday. Given the team’s schedule, New Orleans could rest him for the upcoming game and give him four days rest before returning on Tuesday against the Portland Trail Blazers.