The New Orleans Pelicans were finally catching their rhythm.
On Thursday, Pelicans cornerstone Brandon Ingram exited their matchup against the Orlando Magic with an apparent knee injury.
Brandon Ingram Goes Down with Knee Injury, Will Get MRI
Ingram appeared to hyperextend his left knee just two minutes into the third quarter as he tried to stop a driving Jalen Suggs. Ingram was in serious pain before being helped to the locker room. After being ruled out for the remainder of the game, the eight-year veteran is set to receive an MRI, per Pelicans head coach Willie Green.
Brandon Ingram was helped to the locker room after knee injury
Hope he’s ok
pic.twitter.com/45WMMjNEfE
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 22, 2024
“We don’t have any information right now other than he’s getting an MRI and getting some imagine done,” Green says, per the New Orleans Times-Picayune’s Christian Clark. “It’s extremely difficult to see him go down. Our prayers will be going up tonight. Hopefully, we get some good news tonight.”
Before his exit, Ingram had recorded 14 points (on 7-12 shooting from the field), four rebounds, three assists, and one steal in 21.5 minutes. Down nine points to the Magic at halftime, New Orleans eventually lost by 15 points. The Magic pulled their starters before the final six minutes of the game. Banchero tallied his second career triple-double with 20 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds.
Pelicans face of the franchise Zion Williamson almost recorded a triple-double of his own, with 20 points, seven rebounds, and eight turnovers. Nonetheless, though he struggled against Orlando’s ball pressure on Thursday, New Orleans will look for much-improved play from Williamson going forward.
Trey Murphy III
Triggerman Trey Murphy III will also get an opportunity to step up. Murphy finished the night with a team-high 21 points on 3-5 shooting from 3. He scored 11 of those points in the third quarter alone. This season, he averages 14.1 points per game on 37.6 percent shooting from 3.
Following their loss to the Magic, Murphy opened up about Ingram’s injury, saying “it hurts.”
“You hope there is nothing wrong with him,” Murphy continues. “He’s been a big help for me in my career and my progression. The whole maturation process. To see him go down, it hurts. Definitely just pray for him.”
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
Third-year pro Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, who the Pelicans signed to a two-year deal last month, may also receive a larger role if Ingram misses time. On Thursday, Robinson-Earl played all 12 minutes of the fourth quarter. He finished the night with six points on 3-5 shooting from the field.
Robinson-Earl’s not a great offensive threat, averaging a career-high 7.5 points per game in his rookie season. However, he’s demonstrated three-level scoring ability. He notably shoots 34.7 percent from 3 for his career while playing as a stretch-big. At the other end, he guards 1-5.
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