NEW ORLEANS — Zion Williamson has been ruled out of the New Orleans Pelicans’ Western Conference play-in game against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night because of a left hamstring injury — and is expected to miss up to two weeks should New Orleans advance to the NBA playoffs.
The injury occurred with about three minutes remaining in a 110-106 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in New Orleans’ play-in tournament opener at home on Tuesday night. The club announced Wednesday that imaging confirmed he had a strained hamstring and that he would be re-evaluated in about two weeks.
Williamson’s status is the latest in a series of untimely injuries during his first five NBA seasons and removes the Pelicans leading scorer from their lineup for a do-or-die, play-in tournament finale that will decide the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
Williamson scored 40 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the loss to the Lakers on Tuesday night. But moments after converting a driving, game-tying layup over Lakers star Anthony Davis, the Pelicans star forward was throwing a towel to the floor in disgust as he disappeared down a tunnel leading to the locker room.
“This is an unfortunate situation,” Pelicans guard CJ McCollum said. “He was having a great game. We’re getting down the stretch of a highly important game where he’s dominating and leaving his imprint in all phases.
“I don’t know what happened or the extent of it,” McCollum added. “Hopefully, he’s back soon.”