Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson remains hospitalized in Boston Saturday night, where doctors are still running tests in an effort to evaluate the cervical stinger Anderson sustained Friday night during a game against the Celtics.
The team's head trainer Jon Ishop is in Indianapolis with the team, where they're preparing to play the Indiana Pacers. Staff from New Orleans has arrived in Boston to help doctors in their efforts to diagnose and treat Anderson.
"I was on my knees last night praying," head coach Monty Williams said. "I'm asking for everyone else to pray too, our fans and even other teams' fans."
The team had to leave Anderson in Boston last night, as they traveled to Indiana for the second game of a back-to-back.
Anderson did give the crowd a thumb's up as he was wheeled off the court Friday night, and he was speaking to doctors Friday and Saturday.
The injury occurred as the Pelicans tried to inbound the ball from under their own defensive basket Friday night versus the Celtics. Wallace bumped into Anderson from behind, around his shoulder blade area, sending him careening to the floor.
"I don't know what happened. I really don't know," Wallace said post-game. "I didn't see him; I don't know what happened. I've been there. I've been on the floor two or three times in my career. I know the feeling. I know what he's going through, the thought process. I mean I know the whole process of him laying on the floor waiting on a stretcher to come get you. I just want to make sure that he's fine. He said he was all right."
After Anderson went down, Wallace was one of the players who stayed closest to him until he was wheeled away.
Anderson isn't just the Pelicans leading scorer. He's in many ways one of the biggest components of the team's heart and soul.
"It was tough. It's a sad situation," Pelicans forward Anthony Davis said. " You don't want to see one of your guys go down, especially one of your leaders. We just prayed for him, but at the same time we've got to try and win the game. From that point on, we just tried to win it for him."
That the Pelicans did, triumphing over the Celtics 95-92, behind Davis' 23 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocked shots.
Praying for @ryananderson33, hate seeing a teammate leaving on a stretcher. Glad we pulled together for the win!
— Greg Stiemsma (@gregstiemsma) January 4, 2014
Good team win tonight ? for u @ryananderson33 get better soon
— Tyreke Evans (@TyrekeEvans) January 4, 2014
