The late game heroics of a former Duke basketball standout was not enough to win.
It was a chaotic final minute for Brandon Ingram but the potential heroics of the former Duke basketball standout were not enough for the New Orleans Pelicans to advance in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Ingram finished with a team-high 32 points but a missed free throw could have cut the Pelicans defect to one with 10.7 seconds left.
Instead, the All-Star split a pair at the line as New Orleans trailed by two, 117-115, but Ingram would make an improbable 3-pointer with 2.8 seconds remaining to make it a one point game, 119-118, but his team could not get any closer.
Ingram thought he was fouled on the play which would have given him the chance to tie the gam eat the free throw line.
WHAT A SHOT BY BRANDON INGRAM 😱
— NBA (@NBA) April 13, 2023
2 point game on ESPN with 2 seconds to go ‼️ pic.twitter.com/gpXXERObdb
The Oklahoma City Thunder would advance, 123-118, to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night order to advance to the NBA Playoffs.
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Brandon Ingram also added six rebounds and seven assists in the loss wile shooting 10-of-19 from the field, 1-of-2 from 3-point range, and 9-for-11 from the free throw line.
Injuries to Duke basketball stars limit Pelicans success
The biggest reason that the Pelicans were not able to defend its home court is its sloppy play coming out of the halftime locker room in which the team was outscored by 15 points, 39-24, in the third quarter.
Brandon Ingram was stifled in the first half by the Thunder’s defense but was able to shake free in the second half but could not get enough help from his teammates as New Orleans was once again without Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum was just 5-of-15 from the floor, and 1-of-5 from 3-point range, for 14 points.
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The season ends in disappointment for the Pelicans, who had high aspirations entering the season that were once again diminished by injuries to both Ingram and Williamson.
New Orleans will hope its former Blue Devil stars are able to stay healthy next season as the organization looks to make a run in the Western Conference.