There may be an argument on this from supporters of Chicago All-Star guard Zach LaVine, but at the start of this NBA season, sixth-year forward Brandon Ingram might have been the league’s best player who’d yet to participate in a playoff game. By pouring in 30 points on 14/21 shooting Friday – spearheading New Orleans to a 105-101 win over the Clippers in an elimination game – Ingram made sure his name will be permanently removed from that discussion by the end of this weekend.
The talented LaVine (478 career games) and Ingram (368) will each perform in the national showcase of the NBA playoffs for the first time Sunday evening, after Ingram helped lead the Pelicans to two play-in tournament victories.