Los Angeles Lakers small forward Brandon Ingram has been ruled out for Monday night’s game against the Indiana Pacers.
The Los Angeles Lakers are currently riding a two-game losing streak. Snapping that losing streak will not be easy, as the Lakers are about to embark on a four-game road trip. Their first game is Monday night against the Indiana Pacers.
That is a difficult game in itself, as the Pacers are currently the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. They are also looking to exact some revenge on the Lakers from Jan. 19 when Los Angeles won at the STAPLES Center.
Exacting that revenge became a little bit easier for the Pacers. According to Mike Bresnahan of Spectrum SportsNet, small forward Brandon Ingram will be out for the game against the Pacers.
Ingram has been dealing with a strained groin and has missed the previous eight games. Bresnahan also notes that Los Angeles’ next game is Thursday against the New Orleans Pelicans, which could be the next time we see Ingram on the court.
The loss of Ingram has been a difficult one, as the Lakers depth on the perimeter was tested. In addition to Ingram, the Lakers have also been without shooting guard Josh Hart. Hart fractured a bone in his left hand and is still without a timetable to return.
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The results for the Lakers have been mixed without Ingram. They have gone 4-4, including splits with the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat. Getting Ingram back in the lineup would help, and he is getting closer to a return.
Over the weekend, the news was shared that Ingram was getting closer to a return. He had been cleared for non-contact basketball activities, which is a step in the right direction. Another positive was that head coach Luke Walton said Ingram would join the team on their road trip.
That probably means that Ingram has a good chance of playing at some point over the next four games. It would help the lineup, as Ingram is the team’s leading scorer at 16.2 points per game. He is also adding 5.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.
While Ingram is getting closer to a return, he still has one big hurdle to overcome. He has yet to get through a 5-on-5 practice with full contact. Until he does that, he won’t be returning to the court.
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As Bresnahan noted, the Lakers next game is not until Thursday. With two off days in between games, there is a chance for the Lakers to practice and see where Ingram stands. Hopefully, he is able to return sooner than later and help keep the Lakers on track.