2 min read • March 24, 2022
Posted in
The playoff-hopeful Pelicans will finally get a major piece in their lineup on Thursday as Larry Nance Jr. is expected to return from a 35-game absence and make his New Orleans debut against the Bulls.
Nance Jr., who the Pelicans picked up from Portland early last month, has not played since suffering a right knee injury on Jan. 5. The injury, labeled as right knee inflammation, was slow to heal and the 29-year-old underwent arthroscopic surgery on Feb. 8.
Nance Jr. is averaging 6.9 points and 5.6 rebounds in 37 games this season, coming off the bench in 26 of them.
The new man in New Orleans will likely play without all-star Brandon Ingram, who is doubtful and expected to miss 9th straight game with a right hamstring strain.
Ingram has missed 22 games this season with multiple ailments, including left achilles soreness, a right ankle sprain, and a right hip contusion.
The Pelicans, 30-42, have won 3 of their last 5 games behind CJ McCollum and Jonas Valanciunas. Valanciunas is averaging 23 points and 12.8 rebounds on .623/.417/.875 shooting splits over the 5-game stretch.
New Orleans is holding onto the 10th seed in the West, a game-and-a-half up on the Spurs for the final play-in position and only half a game behind the Lakers for the No. 9 seed.
Written by
