INDIANAPOLIS -- The New Orleans Pelicans were without two key players Saturday night when they faced the Indiana Pacers, but the expectation is they won't be without either for long.
Rookie Zion Williamson, who went through pregame warm-ups, and All-Star forward Brandon Ingram were ruled out of Saturday's 124-117 win because of injuries. Williamson missed the game with a sprained left ankle, while Ingram was out with a sprained right ankle.
However, a team source said the expectation is for both players to be back for the Pelicans' next game -- a home contest against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry was proud of the effort of his team Saturday without its two leading scorers.
"It was our best team win from the standpoint from everybody that we needed to contribute contributed," Gentry said.
Ingram and Williamson sprained their ankles during the second quarter of New Orleans' win over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.
Williamson didn't finish the second quarter but returned in the second half and finished with a team-high 21 points. Ingram injured his ankle late in the second quarter and started the third quarter. However, he checked out midway through the quarter and did not return.
Ingram was downgraded to doubtful on Saturday, and Williamson was added to the injury report on Saturday afternoon.
Gentry said before the game that both players would get treatment pregame and that their status would be decided after that.
Williamson missed the first 44 games of the season as he recovered from surgery on the meniscus in his right knee. Even though Williamson finished the game against Chicago, Gentry said the team will be cautious with him, as well as Ingram.
"There's no reason to take risks right now," Gentry said postgame. "We have 30 games left in our season. We're not going to play guys unless they are able to play. We just didn't feel like it was a good idea to stick either one of those guys in today. And we have confidence in the other guys on our team. That's why we don't have to take that risk."
Ingram, a first-time All-Star, is averaging 24.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists this season.
In eight games, Williamson is averaging 19.8 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 57.4%. He's the only rookie this season with four consecutive 20-point games.