OKLAHOMA CITY — New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram left Saturday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder midway through the second quarter with a head injury and did not return.
Ingram apparently was struck in the head at some point during play and asked the bench for a sub. At the first dead ball, Ingram checked out of the game and went directly into the locker room and remained there for the rest of the game.
Ingram’s specific injury wasn’t initially clear, with the team saying he was still being “evaluated” some 30 minutes after the game.
“I haven’t seen it at all,” coach Alvin Gentry said. “Just got hit in the head, that’s it.”
Ingram, 22, had seven points and four rebounds in 13 minutes before checking out. Without Ingram, the Pelicans struggled to score in the second half, putting up just 44 points in the final 24 minutes — including 18 in the fourth quarter — in a 115-104 loss to the Thunder.
After being acquired in the blockbuster Anthony Davis trade, Ingram has gotten off to a good start in New Orleans, averaging 26.8 points and 8.2 rebounds in his first five games.
Already short-handed without No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson and forward Derrick Favors, the Pelicans fell to 1-5 with Saturday’s loss.