Blue Devil Country

Rough night for Duke basketball product in long-awaited return

Pelicans star Brandon Ingram still has months' worth of rust to shake off.
Matt Giles|
Rough night for Duke basketball product in long-awaited return
Rough night for Duke basketball product in long-awaited return

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Former Duke basketball one-and-done forward Brandon Ingram made his long-awaited return for the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night after missing their previous 29 games with a bruised left toe.

RELATED: List of Duke's all-time McDonald's All-Americans

The 25-year-old former No. 2 overall draft pick hadn't seen game action since the day after Thanksgiving, and it showed. Ingram played 26 minutes, which is encouraging. But the Pelicans (26-23) lost at home to the Minnesota Timberwolves (25-25), 111-102, marking the team's season-worst sixth-straight loss.

And although Ingram finished with a respectable 13 points, five rebounds, five assists, and one steal, he shot only 4-for-18 from the field and 0-for-6 from downtown. After the game, he told the media that he's not yet pain-free; all the same, he expects to increase his production soon.

"I was anxious to get out there today," Ingram said. "I felt a lot of emotions coming in. Just excitement to play. It's been a while. I'll be fine. I don't think it'll be too many games before I'm myself. Nights like this are only good motivation."

Meanwhile, the Timberwolves have two former Blue Devils on their roster: Austin Rivers and Wendell Moore Jr. However, only Rivers played against the Pelicans on Wednesday night, tallying only two points and three rebounds in his 24 minutes off the bench.

RELATED: List of every Blue Devil currently in the NBA

As New Orleans hopes for Brandon Ingram to shake off his rust sooner rather than later, Pelicans fans are also pining for the return of the squad's other Duke basketball product, 22-year-old forward Zion Williamson. The franchise's 2019 No. 1 draft pick has missed the past 12 outings due to a right hamstring strain.

On Tuesday, CBS Sports' Sam Quinn reported that Williamson is "healing as expected and will be re-evaluated in two weeks."

Williamson and Ingram are each averaging over 20 points per game this season. That said, the pair of one-time All-Stars has missed 59 games combined, and they've been in the lineup together only 12 times.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country for daily Duke basketball content.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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