Pelicans' Zion Williamson: Crashes offensive glass
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Williamson chipped in 12 points (5-20 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 2-7 FT), 12 rebounds, four assists and one block across 33 minutes during Wednesday's 104-89 loss to the Warriors.
Williams' season-high six offensive rebounds helped him record his second double-double of the season Wednesday. However, the 24-year-old forward struggled with his efficiency and recorded as many turnovers (four) as assists. While Williamson has earned a reputation as one of the NBA's most efficient scorers, he is shooting just 36.5 percent from the field across his first four appearances this season.
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Pelicans' Zion Williamson: Records season-hgh 31 points
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Williamson logged 31 points (12-19 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 6-8 FT), eight rebounds, three assists and one block across 30 minutes during Tuesday's 124-106 loss to the Warriors.
Williamson enjoyed his best performance of the season in the loss. Aside from Brandon Ingram, Williamson was the only player to log double-digit points for the Pelicans. That's not a good recipe for success, as the duo will need better evenings from CJ McCollum and Herbert Jones (shoulder) to ensure success. Trey Murphy's (hamstring) eventual return will help matters, but Williamson is expected to carry a heavy load in the meantime.
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Pelicans' Zion Williamson: Struggles from floor Sunday
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Williamson contributed 14 points (3-12 FG, 8-10 FT), three rebounds, four assists and one block across 28 minutes during Sunday's 125-103 loss to Portland.
Williamson has struggled from the field over his last two games, going 7-for-27 from the field over that span. The Pelicans' offense will struggle at times for as long as Dejounte Murray is sidelined due to a fractured left hand. Williamson and the Pelicans will continue their three-game road trip against Golden State on Tuesday.
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Pelicans' Zion Williamson: Teases triple-double Friday
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Williamson amassed 16 points (4-15 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 8-14 FT), 11 rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and one steal over 29 minutes during Friday's 105-103 win over the Trail Blazers.
The 24-year-old big was on a slight minutes restriction after missing the Pelicans' opener due to an illness, but Williamson still made a big impact. He played a career-high 70 games in 2023-24, and staying healthy remains his top priority, but Williamson could blow past the career-high 7.2 boards he recorded in 2020-21 given the heavy usage at center he's likely to see this season.
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Pelicans' Zion Williamson: Under minutes restriction
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Head coach Willie Green said before Friday's game against Portland that Williamson (illness) will play "a little under" his normal minutes, Christian Clark of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
Williamson missed the regular-season opener due to illness, and while he's been cleared to play Friday, he'll be limited. The 24-year-old averaged 31.5 minutes per game in the regular season during the 2023-24 campaign, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Williamson log 25-to-29 minutes Friday based on Green's pre-game statement. Despite the restrictions, Williamson is part of the starting lineup.
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Pelicans' Zion Williamson: Officially good to go
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Williamson (illness) isn't on the injury report for Friday's game versus the Trail Blazers.
Williamson will return to action Friday after missing New Orleans' regular-season opener with an illness. Williamson should replace Daniel Theis in the starting lineup against Portland.
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Pelicans' Zion Williamson: Expected to play Friday
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Coach Willie Green said Williamson (illness) "looks like he's good to go" for Friday's game versus the Trail Blazers, Rod Walker of the New Orleans Advocate reports.
Williamson missed Wednesday's regular-season opener due to an illness but seems poised to return to action Friday. However, fantasy managers should wait for an official injury update to confirm Williamson's availability against Portland.
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Pelicans' Zion Williamson: Officially out sick Wednesday
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Williamson (illness) has been ruled out for Wednesday's season opener versus Chicago, Will Gottlieb of AllCHGO.com reports.
Williamson was forced to miss practice Tuesday due to an ailment, and it will sideline him for the Pelicans' Opening Night. The Pelicans will travel cross-country Thursday afternoon in advance of Friday's game versus Portland, and coach Willie Green expressed optimism that Williamson will make the trip.
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Pelicans' Zion Williamson: Absent from shootaround
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Williamson (illness) was not present at Wednesday's morning shootaround, Christian Clark of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
Williams also missed practice Tuesday, and the Pelicans officially listed the forward as questionable. It remains to be seen if he'll be able to suit up against the Bulls, but if he does, he likely won't be 100 percent.
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Pelicans' Zion Williamson: Dealing with illness
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Williamson didn't practice Tuesday due to an illness and will be a game-time decision ahead of Wednesday's regular-season opener against the Bulls, Erin Summers of Bally Sports New Orleans reports. Williamson is officially listed as questionable.
Williamson appeared in a career-high 70 regular-season games last season, averaging 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.1 steals in 31.5 minutes. It's disappointing to see the oft-injured forward on the injury report already, but Williamson should be back in action before long, even if he misses the regular-season opener.
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Pelicans' Zion Williamson: Sitting out preseason finale
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Williamson is out for Tuesday's preseason game against the Rockets due to rest purposes.
Williamson hasn't suffered any injury but will sit out New Orleans' preseason finale. The 24-year-old forward should be good to go for the regular-season opener against Chicago on Oct. 23.
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Pelicans' Zion Williamson: Scores game-high 13 points Sunday
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Williamson logged 13 points (5-10 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 3-3 FT), two rebounds, two assists and one block across 17 minutes in Sunday's 101-99 preseason loss to the Heat.
Williamson scored a game-high 13 points while playing limited minutes in the contest. The All-Star forward was fairly efficient, and he dominated around the paint while finding good looks down low and hitting from mid-range. Williamson is coming off another efficient season, during which he averaged 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.7 blocks across 31.5 minutes per game in a career-high 70 regular-season outings. The big man has struggled to stay on the court, but if consistently available, he will likely be in for another productive year.
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Pelicans' Zion Williamson: Efficient in preseason opener
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Williamson notched 16 points (8-11 FG, 0-1 3Pt), eight rebounds, three assists and two steals across 19 minutes in Monday's 106-104 preseason win over the Magic.
Williamson needed less than 20 minutes to show everyone that the rumors of him being healthy and in excellent shape were true, as the star forward rarely missed from the field and ended just two rebounds shy of recording a double-double. Williamson will be the driving force of the Pelicans' offense once they open their regular season against the Bulls on Oct. 23.
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Pelicans' Zion Williamson: Healthy for camp
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Pelicans vice president of basketball operations David Griffin said Monday that Williamson (hamstring) has been cleared for training camp, Erin Summers of Bally Sports New Orleans reports.
Williamson suffered his left hamstring injury during the Play-In Tournament and was unable to suit up against the Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. He's had several months to recover, however, and he should be able to hit the ground running in training camp. The 2019 No. 1 overall pick put up averages of 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.1 steals in 70 regular-season appearances in 2023-24.
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Pelicans' Zion Williamson: Remains out, but making progress
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Williamson (hamstring) has been ruled out for Monday's Game 4 against the Thunder.
There was optimism that Williamson could return at some point in the postseason if New Orleans advanced, and that remains true as coach Willie Green said Sunday morning the superstar forward was cleared for stationary basketball drills, per Erin Summers of Bally Sports New Orleans. However, Williamson still isn't running and remains out while rehabbing a left hamstring strain he suffered during the team's first Play-In Tournament game against the Lakers. The Pelicans' season will be on the line Monday, so the positive update on Williamson may be for naught.
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Pelicans' Zion Williamson: Hopeful to return in postseason
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Williamson (hamstring), who will be re-evaluated in one week, said Tuesday it is "realistic" he returns in the postseason, Andrew Lopez of ESPN.com reports.
Williamson exited the Pelicans' first Play-In Tournament game against the Lakers with a hamstring strain and has not played since. However, Williamson says he is hopeful to eventually make his postseason return, which would likely require a second-round matchup. Despite not having Williamson available for Game 1 against the top-seeded Thunder, the Pelicans kept it close, losing 94-92. How quickly the medical staff clears him may depend on how the remainder of the series plays out.
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Pelicans' Zion Williamson: Out at least two weeks
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The Pelicans announced Wednesday that Williamson has been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain following an MRI and will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks.
Williamson suffered the injury during the fourth quarter of Tuesday's Play-In Tournament loss to the Lakers and was already ruled out for the win-or-go-home matchup versus the Kings on Friday. The 2019 No. 1 overall pick's career has been defined by injuries, but he showed off his unique skill set when healthy this season and was dominant before leaving Tuesday's game, posting 40 points (17-27 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 6-9 FT), 11 rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block in 36 minutes. If Williamson is cleared right at the two-week mark, he could return late in a potential first-round series versus the Thunder, but the Pelicans must beat Sacramento first to keep their season alive.
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Pelicans' Zion Williamson: Won't play Friday
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Williamson (hamstring) has been ruled out for Friday's Play-In Game against the Kings, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
Williamson suffered a left hamstring injury in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's Play-In Tournament loss to the Lakers and won't be available for the win-or-go-home matchup versus Sacramento on Friday. This is a huge blow for Williamson, who shined during his first playoff exposure by posting 40 points (17-27 FG) and 11 rebounds in 36 minutes before leaving the contest. The 2019 No. 1 overall pick's career continues to be defined by injuries, but the extent of his latest one remains unclear. If the Pelicans defeat the Kings and advance to the opening-round series against the Thunder, Williamson's next chance to suit up would come Sunday night.
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Pelicans' Zion Williamson: Will undergo testing
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Coach Will Green said Tuesday that Williamson is dealing with left leg soreness and will undergo testing Wednesday, Andrew Lopez of ESPN.com reports.
Williamson mysteriously left Tuesday's Play-In Tournament game against the Lakers with 3:13 remaining in the fourth quarter after scoring a layup over Anthony Davis. Williamson was still able to tally 40 points (17-27 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 6-9 FT), 11 rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block in 36 minutes before exiting. The 23-year-old forward's status for Friday's matchup with the winner of the Warriors versus the Kings is uncertain.
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Pelicans' Zion Williamson: Heads to locker room
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Williamson went to the locker room with 3:13 remaining in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's game versus the Lakers, Christian Clark of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
Williamson came up grimacing after scoring a layup over Anthony Davis and was forced to head to the locker room. If Williamson is unable to return, he will end the contest with a dominant performance of 40 points, 11 rebounds, five assists one steal and one block in 36 minutes.