After missing the last four games for the Pelicans with left hip flexor soreness, Lonzo Ball will return to the starting lineup for Friday’s game against the Washington Wizards. Ball confirmed he would be playing after shootaround on Friday morning and head coach Stan Van Gundy said that Ball would be in the starting lineup in his return prior to the game.
Van Gundy also noted that Ball would be on a minutes restriction but did not clarify how many minutes he would be limited today. After shootaround, Ball discussed the injury, saying he thinks it came from overcompensating for his right hip flexor strain that also knocked him out of action.
In total, Ball missed seven games with the right hip flexor strain and four games with the left hip flexor soreness while playing three games in between the two injuries. Ball returns with the Pelicans two games behind the Golden State Warriors and the 10th spot in the play-in race.
