NEW ORLEANS — Brandon Ingram’s week didn’t unfold as he’d hoped until Friday night.
Attempting a return from a bone bruise in his left knee, the New Orleans Pelicans forward endured two lackluster performances as the team stumbled in the regular-season finale and the initial play-in contest against the Los Angeles Lakers.
But Ingram’s response on Friday propelled the Pelicans into the playoffs.
With a team-leading 24 points from Ingram and a collective defensive effort, the Pelicans overcame the Sacramento Kings 105-98, securing a playoff spot as the Western Conference’s No. 8 seed. Up next for New Orleans: a showdown with the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night.
“This was the goal at the beginning of the year,” said Ingram. “Throughout it, we had some injuries. We had different things happen. But we had another opportunity today, and we came in, and everybody contributed.”
Following Tuesday’s defeat, where he sat out the final minutes, Ingram was early to the Pelicans’ practice facility on Wednesday, diligently working to rediscover his form.
Ingram sustained the injury against the Orlando Magic on March 21, sidelining him until the regular season’s final game. Initially challenging to find his rhythm, he found his groove on Friday.
“It’s been one of my healthiest seasons, and I was out for three weeks just watching and trying to stay disciplined,” Ingram explained. “It’s hard just trying to stay disciplined, trying to stay locked in knowing I wanted to be out on the floor.”
Despite facing a setback, Ingram’s defensive play in the second quarter proved pivotal. After a shaky start where Sacramento capitalized on Pelicans turnovers, Ingram’s defensive effort helped swing momentum in New Orleans’ favor.
Ingram’s third foul in the second quarter prompted a brief discussion with Pelicans coach Willie Green, who opted to keep him in the game, a decision that paid off.
“I told him, ‘I’m taking you out.’ And he said, ‘No, I need you to trust me,'” Green recounted. “That’s the relationship part of it that he and I, along with the rest of the guys, you build a relationship, and that’s a moment where I said, ‘OK, I trust you.'”
Ingram’s control of the game was evident, as the Pelicans secured their sixth victory over the Kings this season.
The win was a relief for the Pelicans, who had struggled at home leading up to the game but managed to clinch a playoff berth, marking their 49th win of the season.
“We deserve it,” asserted Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. “That’s how we felt coming into this game, and that’s how we felt going into the last game.”
