New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson suffered a Grade 1 (mild) left hamstring strain and will be re-evaluated in seven-to-10 days, per the team.
That would presumably keep Williamson out for at least four games, as the team has four matchups on the schedule from Tuesday, Nov. 4-Monday, Nov. 10. New Orleans then has a five-game homestand from Nov. 12-19.
On Monday, Nov. 3, the Pels listed Williamson as questionable for their Nov. 4 game against the Charlotte Hornets with left hamstring soreness.
Williamson previously suffered a bone contusion in his left foot and missed the Pels’ 122-90 home loss to the Boston Celtics on Monday, Oct. 27.
The injury occurred after Williamson accidentally stepped on San Antonio Spurs superstar big man Victor Wembanyama’s foot following a putback dunk in the Pels’ 120-116 overtime loss on Friday, Oct. 24.
“Landed on someone’s foot and the side of my foot just banged the ground,” Williamson said. “The pain level didn’t really pick up until a day or two days later. I spoke with the team, made the best decision on it. Got it looked at.”
He was limited at practice on Tuesday, Oct. 28 but expressed optimism on an impending return, per Rod Walker of The New Orleans Advocate.
“Right now we’re in a day-to-day thing,” Williamson said. “But nothing major. Nothing that is going to keep me out for a long time. Just day to day.”
Williamson was then listed as questionable for the Pels’ road contest on Wedneaday, Oct. 29 at the Denver Nuggets but eventually played that game plus two more. He most recently played on Sunday, Nov. 2 and posted 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists in a 137-106 road loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Through his first five games of the season, Williamson averaged 22.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He’s an invaluable member of this Pels team, which sorely needs his production, especially after the team previously traded Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum.
The Pels also await the return of Dejounte Murray from a torn Achilles. Charania (h/t Pelicans Film Room) reported in September that Murray could return after New Year’s Day.
Without Williamson against the C’s, the Pelicans put rookie guard Jeremiah Fears, the seventh overall pick in the NBA draft, in the starting lineup alongside fellow guard Jordan Poole, forwards Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones and center Yves Missi.
As far as minutes off the bench in the frontcourt in Williamson’s absence, forward Saddiq Bey sees time, and the same goes for rookie center Derik Queen (No. 13 overall pick) and new Pelican addition and center DeAndre Jordan.
