"Capture the Flagg by accident"- NBA Reddit reacts as Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram-less Pelicans score 28 halftime points in loss

The New Orleans Pelicans faced the New York Knicks on Sunday without key players Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. Williamson has been out for weeks due to a left hamstring strain, while Ingram joined him on the sidelines because of right plantar tendonitis.

Minus two of the team’s best players, the Pelicans suffered a 118-85 loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The silver lining to the consistent losing is the possibility of entering the draft lottery. If the Pelicans win it, they could get Cooper Flagg if the Duke star is available in the 2025 NBA draft.

Basketball fans on Reddit reacted to the loss, the eighth straight by the Pelicans:

"The Pelicans are better at Capture the Flagg by accident, than my team is on purpose," wrote a fan.

“Sometimes you don’t Capture the Flagg, the Flagg Captures you.”

Comment byu/Colorapt0r from discussion innba

HenrikCrown said:

“I’ve only been peeping the box score and I legit kept thinking the team walked off the court”

Comment byu/Colorapt0r from discussion innba

Spoofcaptain added:

“I have switched to watching professional wrestling”

Comment byu/Colorapt0r from discussion innba

One fan commented:

“As a Jazz fan, I feel this”

Comment byu/Colorapt0r from discussion innba

A Pelicans supporter has had it:

“Zion and BI should go. Zion truly doesn’t take basketball seriously in N.O. BI looks like he’s on his way out.

“5 years straight of injury spoiled seasons.

“I don’t care who is left we just want a healthy team at his point.”

Comment byu/Colorapt0r from discussion innba

Minus Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and other key players, the Pelicans could only muster 28 points in the first half against the Knicks. After trailing 33-10 in the first quarter, New Orleans faced a 57-28 deficit heading into the second half. New York led by as many as 41 points and turned the fourth quarter into a march to victory.

Injuries continue to play a big role in the New Orleans Pelicans’ underwhelming seasons over the past five years. During that stretch, Zion Williamson played 184 out of 410 games.

This season, he has played six of his team's 21 games. The Pelicans announced that the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA draft has no definite timetable for a return.

Brandon Ingram has been much healthier compared to Williamson but he played in 287 games out of the 410 in the previous five seasons. BI has missed four games already and is expected to sit out a few more to recover from a calf injury.

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Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram aren't the only injured Pelicans

Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy III are not the only players on the Pelicans' injury list. Jose Alvarado (hamstring), Jordan Hawkins (back) and Herb Jones (shoulder) continue to miss time as well.

The loss to the New York Knicks dropped the Pelicans' record to 4-17, the worst in the Western Conference. They will have trouble getting out of that unenviable spot unless Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and others return.