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: 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: 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: 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.
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.
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.
