Lakers Pelicans Injury List Ahead of Crucial Play-In Game

Christian Wood, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Jalen Hood-Schifino all remain out of action for the Lakers with no timetables announced.

Lakers Trio Marked Out On Injury List Against Pelicans

The Lakers’ injury list ahead of their play-in matchup against the Pelicans is cluttered with injuries. They could see serious problems with their rotation and depth because of it.

Star players LeBron James, marked probable with left ankle peroneal tendinopathy, and Anthony Davis, marked questionable with hip and back spasms, should both dress for action on Tuesday. James had an astonishing triple-double against the Pels, scoring 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 17 assists, although he may have felt sore afterward. Davis left in the middle of the game after taking a push to the back from Larry Nance Jr.

Christian Wood, a versatile big capable both on the paint and in the perimeter, has been marked out for Tuesday’s game. Wood is suffering from a left knee effusion (fluid in hollow spaces or tissues in the body) and hasn’t played since February 22. The Long Beach native averages 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.

Jarred Vanderbilt joins Wood on the injury list with a mid-foot sprain on his right foot. Vanderbilt has missed extensive time; he hasn’t played since February 2. Sources report the Lakers are optimistic that Vando will return in the middle of their potential first-round matchup, as he recently started light jogging and aims to start on-court training soon. Vanderbilt is a defensive stud and has made leaps offensively, despite a noticeable gap in his three-point shooting. He averages 5.2 points per game along with 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists on 51/29/67 shooting.

Jalen Hood-Schifino will likely not appear in any of the Lakers’ postseason games after he underwent lumbar microdiscectomy surgery. The aim is for the Lakers’ 2023 first-round pick to recover in time for Summer League, where he can focus on developing and rebounding after an underwhelming rookie season.

Pelicans Star Marked Ready to Go

The injury list continues on the Pelicans’ side as they look to rebound from their 16-point loss against the Lakers on Sunday.

Brandon Ingram, averaging 20.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game on 49/36/80 shooting, has been a vital part of the Pels’ season, as he helped lead New Orleans to a third-straight play-in game. The All-Star forward is one of the primary ballhandlers for the team alongside Zion Williamson, and he leads the team in assists per game while providing the ability to stretch the floor and a dangerous scoring ability.

Although Ingram missed extensive time with a bone contusion in his left knee, Ingram played 23 minutes in the Pelicans’ blowout loss to the Lakers. He shot 6-9 from the field, scoring 13 points while adding five rebounds. Despite his limited minutes and potential rustiness, Pels coach Willie Green will still lean on his star forward going into their play-in match.

“I anticipate his minutes going up tomorrow,” Green told The Times-Picayune‘s Christian Clark.

In other positive news for the Pels, small forward Naji Marshall is also ready for action. Marshall, a reliable rotation player prized for his 3-and-D playstyle, missed their vital win over Golden State with a contusion in his left shoulder. Despite suiting up on Sunday, Marshall did not play at all against Los Angeles.

The Pelicans have a clear injury list heading up against Los Angeles. Their starters look well-rested, and they have a plethora of rotation players to send in if anything goes wrong.