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.