Lonzo Ball will be miss Sunday afternoon’s game against the Denver Nuggets with a right hip flexor strain, the Pelicans announced just ahead of tip-off. He entered the day as questionable for the game after being listed on the injury report on Saturday night.
Ball suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s game against the Blazers. Aside from a brief stretch on the sideline earlier this season due to knee soreness, Ball has been a mainstay for the Pelicans this season. Sunday will be just the fourth game Ball has missed on the season despite averaging 31.7 minutes per game, third-most on the team behind Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker replaced Ball in the starting lineup. Earlier this season, Alexander-Walker exploded for 37 points in a loss to the Clippers after replacing Ball in the starting lineup.
The Pelicans will be looking for a win to snap a two-game losing streak and help them cling on to their quickly-fading postseason hopes.
