NEW ORLEANS -- New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram was a late scratch from Monday's game against the Houston Rockets because of right knee soreness.

Ingram started his pregame warm-ups with nothing on his right leg but left the floor earlier than usual to head back to the training room. When he returned, he had a brace on his right knee as trainers watched him get up extra shots.

He went through part of his pregame routine getting shots up but returned to the locker room. Shortly after, the Pelicans announced he was out for the game.

Josh Hart will take Ingram's place in the starting lineup.

Ingram leads the Pelicans in points per game (25.9) and rebounds per game (7.3) and is also the team's leading 3-point shooter at 46.9%. When the Rockets and Pelicans met on Oct. 26 in Houston, Ingram had 35 points and a career-high 15 rebounds.

Ingram did miss one half of a game this season when he left the Oklahoma City contest on Nov. 2 after suffering a blow to the head. He did not have a concussion and played two days later in Brooklyn without any trouble.