The Pelicans’ injury problems worsened when leading scorer Brandon Ingram went down with a sprained ankle

NEW ORLEANS – Just when it looked like the New Orleans Pelicans were regrouping after a wave of injuries, leading scorer Brandon Ingram was eliminated on Saturday.

Ingram landed awkwardly on the foot of Oklahoma City’s Lu Dort early in the third quarter of Saturday night’s 119-109 loss to the Thunder, severely twisting his left ankle.

Ingram had missed six of the Pelicans’ 24 games this season due to various injuries and had just returned from tendonitis in his right foot. He fought back with 29 points on 10 of 19 shooting in a 126-124 win over Phoenix on Thursday night. He left Saturday’s game with just five points on 1-of-5 shooting.

Pelicans coach Willie Green said he couldn’t comment on the severity of Ingram’s latest injury.

“No update at the moment,” Green said. “It is extremely difficult to see a decline in BI – yet another adversity. He had a really good game (against Phoenix) and had some really good practices. Seeing such a tough game was a really tough break for us.”

By a wide margin, the Pelicans were the most injured team in the NBA this season, particularly with their five players.

Pelican players have lost 117 games due to injury through the first six weeks of the season. Zion Williamson has missed 18 of 24 games – the majority of which came after he suffered a hamstring strain on November 11th. Jose Alvarado missed 13 games (hamstring) and Jordan Hawkins missed 13 (back).

Herb Jones returned to the lineup after missing 18 games with a right shoulder strain. Dejounte Murray returned after missing 17 games with a fractured left hand, and CJ McCollum is back after missing 13 games with an adductor strain.

Now the Pelicans will have to wait for Ingram, who led the team with an average of 23.2 points before the loss to the Thunder.