New Orleans Pelicans small forward Brandon Ingram erupted for a career-high 49 points on Thursday to help the Pelicans defeat the Utah Jazz at home.
The Pelicans snapped the Jazz's 10-game winning streak and are now 3.5 games back of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference standings after getting off to a terrible start to the season.
Some around the NBA may be surprised by how lethal Ingram has been this season, but Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry isn't one of them:
“To be honest with you, it doesn’t surprise me that much,” Gentry said, via The Athletic. “I just think that the way he works and the way he’s gotten better and worked on his craft, sooner or later he was going to have a game like this. I thought he did everything we asked him to do. … He just played a terrific game.”
After Thursday's game, Ingram is now averaging 25.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists on the season for the Pelicans. He's shooting 48.0 percent from the field, 40.6 percent from beyond the arc and 86.0 percent from the free-throw line.
Ingram figures to get paid next summer when he enters restricted free agency. As a restricted free agent, Ingram can sign an offer sheet with any team and then the Pelicans would have 48 hours to match the deal or let the talented swingman walk for nothing. Ingram is making $7.3 million this season. His qualifying offer is worth $9.5 million.
Follow Us
Subscribe