The New Orleans Pelicans submitted their injury report ahead of their game against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday. They’ve listed five players in the injury list, including two All-Star forwards. The Pelicans and Kings are set to play their first game of the season at the Smoothie King Center.
Last season, the two teams played against each other five times. In their regular-season series, the Pelicans dominated the Kings and had a five-game sweep. On Thursday, they look to start their season series in their favor and capture the win.
Unfotunately for the Pelicans, they have quite the list of players who will miss the action. Jose Alvarado (left hamstring strain), Jordan Hawkins (lumbar spine annular fissure), Brandon Ingram (left ankle sprain), Karlo Matkovic (low back spasm) and Zion Williamson (left hamstring strain) are all out for the game.
Pelicans Injury Report for Thursday's game#Pelicans | @MorrisBartLLC https://t.co/tXSSHqqW14
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 11, 2024
The Kings, on the other hand, will miss Trey Lyles (calf strain) and Devin Carter (left shoulder).
Ingram is set to miss his second-straight game due to a left ankle sprain. According to the team, he will be out indefinitely with a severe low ankle sprain. The 6-foot-9 forward played 18 games in the 2024-25 NBA season, averaging 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists.
The other star forward who will miss their game against the Kings is Williamson, who is out because of a hamstring injury. Similar to Ingram, the former Duke star will be out indefinitely. However, he has been inactive for the team since Nov. 8, playing only six games. In his limited time on the floor, the 6-foot-6 forward has put up 22.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists.
Trey Murphy III has high praise for New Orleans Pelicans rookie
New Orleans Pelicans perimeter defender Trey Murphy has been impressed with how the team’s rookie, Yves Missi, has played so far. Missi is their 21st pick of the 2024 NBA Draft and has earned valuable minutes amid Williamson’s injury woes.
On Tuesday, Murphy was asked about Missi after their team practice and he had high praise for the Cameroonian big man.
“He has been great,” Murphy said. “He should be in first-team All-Rookie talks and definitely the Rising Stars game. He has been one of the best rookies out. I’m super proud of him and all of the progress he has made.”
He’s played 24 games for the New Orleans Pelicans, averaging 9.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.2 assists.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen with Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
