sWith Zion Williamson in tonight’s game, everybody believed he would be the knight in shining armor. He was; the young forward contributed 26 points, five assists, and three rebounds to the team. But it was Brandon Ingram who took the lead tonight. With 31 points, three assists, and four rebounds, Ingram shone the brightest. The Pelicans were looking to get back the winning streak that was with them during the Mavs and Nuggets victory. And they won, but Zion gives complete credit to his teammate.

But what did Zion say about Ingram?

Zion Williamson credits Ingram for tonight’s win

Brandon Ingram was on a fiery streak. Hitting all his 3-pointers and leading the scorers, the NBA All-Star dominated the game. Carrying his weight, Williamson took control of the paint with 26 points on 12-for-16 shooting against the Kings. At the same time, the young big man joked about how effective he was.

“Give him the ball and get the hell out of the way,” he said. The Sacramento Kings were on a six-game winning streak. Unfortunately, the second and third quarters saw Williamson and Ingram chipping away from the inside and outside of their opponent’s game plan.

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By halftime, the trailing Pelicans were on a 66-53 lead, thanks to Williamson. The second quarter saw “Zanos” with 18 points on 8-for-11 shooting that translated into the said lead. Using Daniels and Jones on the court as CJ McCollum is still out with a collapsed right lung, has proved to be quite effective as well.

The two teams will meet again on Wednesday, and there is no doubt that the matchup is going to be a battle royale. On a different note, how has Ingram proved to be a valuable player for the Pelicans?

Brandon Ingram brings value to the team

Even though the Pelicans’ hype is around Zion Williamson, Ingram has grown to be a key piece of the team. A true offensive star, BI has proved time and again that he can carry the responsibility comfortably and by himself. He plays the best when he works off other stars, and that’s where Williamson’s role is crucial.

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Yet, Ingram has learned to use his physical assets like length and height to his advantage as well. Bigger and quicker defenders can easily just pick him out of the way, but over the years, watching and learning enabled him to improve as an off-ball defender.

Not to mention his playmaking abilities have improved to a point where New Orleans trusts him completely as the full-time primary creator. Even when Williamson is not playing. And with his affinity for injuries, the team is extra careful to not give him up for injuries when his presence will become crucial at a later stage.

We can surely expect greater plays from BI going forward.

Do you think the young duo of Zion and Brandon Ingram can lead the Pelicans back to the playoffs?

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