Power frontwards Zion Williamson exited a preseason biz against the Miami Heat with an ankle injury, but the New Orleans Pelicans downplayed the incident and updated his advance as day-to-day.
The accidental injury scare occurred betimes in the endorse billet when Williamson trilled his ankle joint after getting fastened upwardly with Heat center Dewayne Dedmon. Williamson popped flop plump for upward after his tumble and played a span of more transactions before getting subbed out.
“I’m fine,” Williamson told reporters after the game.
The Pelicans sat Williamson the ease of the spirited citing left ankle joint soreness.
I require to employ the right hand term, but in the moment, it didn’t experience too good,” added Williamson. “It was ane of those things that happened. Played a few proceedings after that, felt fine, then they sent me (to the locker room) just now to double-check.”
Williamson scored 11 points, iv assists, and deuce rebounds in 11 minutes of action. He dig 3-for-7 from the base and knocked knock down 5-for-6 from the free-throw line.
“He’s doing fine,” said chief handler Willie Green. “He’ll be mean solar day to day.”
The Pelicans will hold on Williamson out of their last preseason gamey on Friday.
The Pelicans foregather the Brooklyn Nets inwards their season opener next Wed at Barclay’s Center inward Brooklyn.
Zion: History of Injuries
Williamson, the #1 cull inwards the 2019 NBA Draft, missed the total 2021-22 season recovering from a fractured right on foot and subsequent surgery. Williamson encountered multiple setbacks inwards his rehab. Whenever he got closelipped to rejoining the Pelicans, he experienced swelling or pain, so the squad unopen him down.
Late into finally season, a viral picture made the rounds with Williamson throwing shoot down a monstrous dip during a solo workout. It led to venture he could payoff to the team up in time for the horse opera Conference Play-In Tournament, but Williamson wasn’t ready in time.
Williamson began his NBA life history on the injured list. a knee joint hurt during an NBA Summer League mettlesome delayed his pro debut until Jan 2020. He appeared inward just now 24 games as a rookie, but looked great in the few games he played, averaging 22.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. He also gibe an impressive 43% from 3-point range. The NBA paused the regular season inwards Mar 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, so Williamson logged only when 24 games during his first-class honours degree year inwards the NBA.
During his endorsement flavour with the Pelicans, Williamson earned a fleck on the NBA All-Star team. He averaged 27 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per mettlesome inwards 2020-21. He appeared inwards 61 games before he fractured the halo finger's breadth on his left hand deal and missed the in conclusion two weeks of the fixture season.
In the summertime of 2021, Williamson fractured his correct hoof patch workings out. The Pelicans set an initial timeline for Williamson to payoff inward Dec of last-place year. His hoof never healed in clip for him to accommodate up endure flavor and he missed all 82 games.
Betting on the Pelicans and a Healthy Zion
Williamson signed a contract filename extension inward the offseason, which could turn over into a max contract bridge if he wins the MVP or gets named to the All-NBA team. When he’s on the court, Williamson lived upwardly to the hype as the coveted #1 pick. However, legion(p) injuries kept him out of the lineup since he left hand Duke. The Pelicans structured his contract to repay a salubrious Williamson. At the same time, they don’t want to live on the crotchet for a max contract with a participant who’s constantly injured.
The Pelicans are +400 betting odds to win the Southwest Division as the thirdly favorite on DraftKings’ hereafter board behind the Memphis Grizzlies (+105) and the Dallas Mavericks (+140).
Oddsmakers contrive the Pelicans testament win 44 or so games this season. They were 36-46 shoemaker's last season, but secured the #8 playoff seed via the horse opera Conference Play-in Tournament. A lot of their success in the upcoming flavor hinges upon Williamson. However, a seed of uncertainty has already been planted most his long-term health after the ankle hurt on Wednesday night.