As the New Orleans Pelicans enter a critical stretch of three games in four days, there is a chance that they will be missing both of their All-Star forwards.
Zion Williamson is still weeks away from returning to the court after reinjuring his right hamstring in February. The Pelicans also could be without Brandon Ingram, who twisted his right ankle in Wednesday’s win against the Dallas Mavericks. Ingram will be listed as questionable for Saturday’s matchup versus the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“He’s done some pool work today,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said Friday. “He’s done some work on the floor. He’ll be questionable tomorrow.”
The Pelicans’ next three games all come against teams they are in direct competition against for a spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament.
On Saturday, the 10th-place Pelicans (32-34) will play the Thunder (31-35), who are one game behind them. On Sunday, the Pelicans face the Portland Trail Blazers (31-35), who are also one game out of 10th place.
Then on Tuesday, the Pelicans meet the Los Angeles Lakers (32-34) for the final time this season. The Lakers have a 2-1 lead in the regular-season series, meaning that if the Pelicans want to prevent the Lakers from clinching a head-to-head tiebreaker, they need to win.
It is unlikely New Orleans will have Jose Alvarado or Larry Nance Jr. in any of its next three contests, either. Alvarado, who has missed the past four games with a stress reaction in his right tibia, is not close to returning. Nance, who has missed the last five games with a left ankle sprain, is closer than Alvarado to getting back on the court but did not go through a full practice Friday.
“They are starting to get on the floor,” Green said. “Not a lot of movement. Larry worked out today. Did some (player development) work. Just trying to get them back on the floor, slowly but surely.”
Injuries have wrecked the Pelicans’ season. They are third in games lost because of injury, according to Man-Games Lost.
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