The New Orleans Pelicans are set to host the Western Conference-leading Golden State Warriors on Friday night. The Pelicans are struggling, having lost 11 of their last 13 games, leaving them near the bottom of the standings. In their recent game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, they played without seven of their top eight scorers, resulting in a blowout defeat.
Ahead of the game, the team released its injury report, which included some positives: Brandon Ingram and Jordan Hawkins could potentially return. Ingram missed Wednesday’s game due to a sprained ankle, while Hawkins has been out for the past two weeks with a lower back sprain.
The New Orleans Pelicans announced on Friday afternoon that both players will be available for their game against the Warriors, which is good news for the team as they need all the offensive help possible to compete with Golden State. The Warriors currently rank third in the NBA for scoring and three-point shooting.
Brandon Ingram is the leading scorer for the Pelicans this season, averaging 23.2 points per game. His name was heavily involved in trade rumors over the offseason after negotiations for a contract extension with New Orleans fell through. There was speculation that Ingram and his camp were seeking a maximum contract that the Pelicans were unwilling to provide.
The former All-Star forward is now in the final year of his contract with New Orleans and will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. The tip-off for the NBA Cup matchup between the teams is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
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