The New Orleans Pelicans face the challenge of securing a playoff berth without their star player, Zion Williamson. The team announced on Wednesday that Williamson is sidelined with a hamstring injury, forcing him to miss the Play-In game against the Sacramento Kings.
Zion Williamson sustained his injury with less than four minutes remaining in the Play-In game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. Up to that point, Williamson had displayed an outstanding performance, scoring 40 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, which helped the Pelicans tie the score.
However, following Williamson’s injury, the Pelicans struggled to mount a comeback and ultimately suffered a narrow 106-110 defeat. Despite the loss, they still have a chance to secure a postseason berth as the eighth seed if they can secure a win against the Sacramento Kings on Friday.
Nevertheless, even if the New Orleans Pelicans manage to clinch a playoff spot, they will have to navigate the postseason without Williamson, as he has been ruled out for at least two weeks due to his injury.
Injuries have been a persistent issue for Zion Williamson since he entered the league as the No. 1 overall pick in 2019. Over his first four years, he has played only 114 games, with the entire 2021-22 season being missed due to injury.
However, when he has been able to take the court, Williamson has demonstrated star-level performance. This season, he participated in 70 games, a career high, and averaged 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. Despite his limited availability, his impact on the game is undeniable when he’s healthy and playing.
