Zion Williamson put in a massive shift on Tuesday night against the Lakers, but the Pelicans fell short. During their play-in game at the Smoothie King Center, the Lakers secured the win with a 110-106 scoreline, confirming a date with the Nuggets in the playoffs.
However, the loss wasn’t the only setback for the New Orleans team, as Zion Williamson picked up an injury in the dying embers of the game. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the 23-year-old forward suffered a left hamstring injury and will undergo further evaluation on Wednesday.
In the losing effort against the Lakers, Zion Williamson contributed with a double-double, consisting of 40 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. On the other hand, LeBron James led the way for the LA franchise with 23 points, followed by D’Angelo Russell’s 21 and Anthony Davis, who chipped in with 20 points.
The Pelicans will have another chance to reach the play-offs when they will face the Sacramento Kings on April 19. Regardless of his future with the franchise, Zion has been a pivotal cog in the NOP machine and with the latest injury, things might go from bad to worse for Willie Green’s men, who have been far from perfect in the absence of the forward.
Pelicans’ record this season without Zion Williamson
The Pelicans have been without Zion Williamson on 12 occasions this season. In those 12 games, the New Orleans side has a record of 7-5. Two of the five losses came against the Timberwolves and one against the Jazz in November last year. The rest of the two defeats came from the hands of the OKC Thunder in January and the Spurs earlier this month.
On a positive note, the Pelicans have beaten the Kings once this season without the presence of Zion Williamson back in January. It is also worth mentioning that the Kings have a 0-5 record against the Pelicans this season and if the same trend continues, Domantas Sabonis and Co. could be in for a long night on Friday.
However, for Zion Williamson, who has been constantly criticized over his physique, he could see those takes make a grand return if he misses the next game due to the injury and the Pelicans crash out of the tournament in the process.
