Pelicans's Brandon Ingram is anticipated to make his return on Sunday

Chris Haynes reported on TNT's "NBA Tip-Off" on Thursday that Brandon Ingram is poised to return just before the end of the regular season, expected to be in the lineup for the New Orleans Pelicans' final game on Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Ingram has been sidelined since March 21 with a left knee injury sustained against the Orlando Magic, missing the Pelicans' last 11 games due to a bone bruise. Despite his absence, the Pelicans managed a 6-5 record. With two games remaining, the team holds a 48-32 record and sits in sixth place in the Western Conference.

The outcome of the Pelicans' final regular-season game could impact their playoff positioning. Currently, they are guaranteed to finish no worse than seventh in the West. However, to secure the sixth spot and avoid the play-in tournament, they need two results to go their way on Friday: a win against the Golden State Warriors and a loss for the seventh-place Phoenix Suns against the Sacramento Kings.

Ingram's return is crucial for the Pelicans, as he adds depth to a talented roster alongside Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum. Despite a decrease in usage rate this season, Ingram remains a key playmaker for the team, averaging 20.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game.


While the coaching staff would prefer more time to reintegrate Ingram before the playoffs, his return signals a positive development for the Pelicans as they aim to have their core players available for the postseason.

Source CBS Sports : Brandon Ingram injury: Pelicans forward expected to return Sunday vs. Lakers, per report
Source Rotowire : Could play in season finale