New Orleans Pelicans ahead Zion Williamson has formally been dominated out for Friday’s play-in match elimination sport towards the Sacramento Kings with a left hamstring pressure, the staff introduced Wednesday.
The Pelicans mentioned an MRI confirmed the harm. Williamson will likely be re-evaluated in roughly two weeks. The 2-time All-Star completed with a season-high 40 factors and 11 rebounds in Tuesday’s play-in loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Per a number of NBA betting websites, the Pelicans maintain ninth-ranked odds to win the championship. Sportsbooks are exhibiting higher odds for the Phoenix Suns and Lakers.
The New Orleans Pelicans introduced at the moment that ahead Zion Williamson has been identified with a left hamstring pressure. An MRI taken this morning confirmed the harm. Williamson will likely be re-examined in roughly two weeks. pic.twitter.com/efY3f2Kq0X
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) April 17, 2024
Williamson, 23, posted his first 40-point, 10-rebound sport of his NBA profession earlier than exiting a tied sport with 3:13 remaining. In his fourth season, he performed in a career-high 70 video games (all begins) this season and was enjoying in his first non-regular-season sport.
The Duke product missed the Pelicans’ two play-in video games in 2022 due to accidents, together with their playoff collection. He additionally sat out the staff’s play-in sport final season because of an harm.
New Orleans Pelicans’ Zion Williamson is out for Friday’s NBA Play-In Match matchup
In New Orleans’ 114-101 win over the Detroit Pistons on March 24, Williamson tallied a then-season-high-tying 36 factors, seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals in 36 minutes of motion.
“I do know my teammates and my coaches belief me,” mentioned Williamson. Zanos completed 13-of-14 (92.9%) capturing from the ground and 10-of-14 (71.4%) on the foul line.
The North Carolina native continues to be the one Pelicans participant to submit at the least 30 factors in a single sport on 90% capturing from the sphere. The 6-foot-6 wing has finished so thrice.
“Severe sufficient that we’ve most likely seen him for the final time this season… He’s primarily out at the least a primary spherical collection.”@wojespn on Zion Williamson’s hamstring harm.pic.twitter.com/l8BQaXA3HW
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 17, 2024
Moreover, Wiliamson grew to become the third participant within the final 20 years to attain 35 factors with no 3-pointer and with fewer than 15 discipline purpose makes an attempt. Dwyane Wade (2005, 2006) and Dwight Howard (2013) are the one different gamers to perform this feat throughout that span.
The Pelicans have been 7-5 in video games with out Williamson this season.
NBA sportsbooks present New Orleans as a 1.5-point underdog towards Sacramento this Friday. The Pelicans are 1-7 of their final eight dwelling video games. Plus, the staff is 4-1 in its previous 5 matchups at dwelling with the Kings.
Per ESPN’s Basketball Energy Index, the Pelicans maintain a 61.9% likelihood of defeating the Kings. New Orleans’ final win at dwelling was over the Milwaukee Bucks on March 28.
