Zion Williamson out with hamstring injury for Play-In game vs Kings

Published April 17, 2024 at 6:29 PM
By: KEVIN BARREAU

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Kevin Barreau
April 17, 2024 (6:29 PM)

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The New Orleans Pelicans will be without one of their key players for their upcoming SoFi Play-In Tournament matchup. The team confirmed on Wednesday that All-Star forward Zion Williamson will miss their game against the Sacramento Kings on Friday (9:30 ET, TNT/truTV) due to a left hamstring strain. He is set to undergo evaluation in two weeks.

Williamson put up an impressive 40 points and grabbed 11 rebounds during Tuesday's Play-In game against the Los Angeles Lakers. However, he exited the game with three minutes remaining and didn't make a comeback.

Williamson's absence is expected to extend through much of a potential series. If the Pelicans secure the No. 8 seed, Williamson could return for Game 5 of the first-round series on May 1, followed closely by Game 6 on May 3 and Game 7 on May 5.

In Tuesday's match against the Los Angeles Lakers, Williamson played a pivotal role, contributing 40 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists. However, his stellar performance was interrupted by a late-game injury.

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Following his driving layup to tie the game at 95 with 3:19 remaining, Williamson exited the court, displaying frustration as he headed to the locker room with an apparent leg injury.

Pelicans coach Willie Green described Williamson's condition as "left leg soreness," and further evaluation is scheduled for Wednesday to determine his availability for Friday's Play-In elimination game against Sacramento.

This season marked his healthiest since joining the league, as the 23-year-old averaged 22.9 points and 5.8 rebounds across 70 games for the Pelicans. In contrast, he only played 29 games in the 2022-23 season and missed the entirety of the 2021-22 season.

Selected as the No. 1 pick in 2019 from Duke University, Williamson boasts two All-Star selections and holds a career scoring average of 24.7 points per game.

Source TSN : Report: Williamson (hamstring) out for Friday Play-In game
Source NBA : Zion Williamson (hamstring) to miss Play-In game vs. Kings

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POLL
April 17 \| 9 answers Zion Williamson out with hamstring injury for Play-In game vs Kings How will Zion Williamson's absence impact the Pelicans in their Play-In game against Sacramento?
Significant - They'll struggle without him	5	55.6 %
Minor - They'll manage fine without him	1	11.1 %
Unsure - It's hard to predict	2	22.2 %
No impact - They have enough depth	1	11.1 %
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