Pelicans Provide Medical Update For Brandon Ingram's Injury Status

The New Orleans Pelicans announced that star forward Brandon Ingram can begin individual on-court workouts for the first time since hyperextending his knee on March 21. Ingram will miss the team's next two games but will increase the intensity of his rehabilitation schedule.

New Orleans has gone 3-5 in the eight games that Ingram has missed, including a 1-5 record during their latest six-game homestand.

Ingram is averaging nearly 21 points a game this season, with career-highs in field goal percentage (49%) and assists (5.8). New Orleans is battling for playoff positioning with a little more than a week left in the regular season.

The Pelicans are currently No. 7 in the West, a game behind the Phoenix Suns for the sixth spot, but only a half-game ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers for the eighth seed. New Orleans plays in Phoenix on Sunday and hosts the Lakers in both teams season finale next week.

New Orleans is slumping at the wrong time and health is a contributing factor. Backup point guard Jose Alvarado missed the team's last five games with a right oblique injury, while forward Zion Williamson missed Friday night's loss to the San Antonio Spurs with a left finger bruise.

For the Pelicans to avoid the NBA Play-In Tournament for the third straight year, New Orleans must finish in the top six in the Western Conference. They embark on a four-game road trip starting Sunday in Phoenix, with games also against the Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, and Portland Trail Blazers.