NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Pelicans are bracing for another extended stint without forward Zion Williamson.
The Pelicans announced Tuesday that Williamson has a strained right hamstring and will be re-evaluated in three weeks. If that timetable holds, Williamson will miss at least 10 games.
Williamson was hurt Monday against the Philadelphia 76ers.
He has appeared in 29 of the season’s first 37 games for the Pelicans (23-14), who entered Tuesday a game out of first place in the Western Conference behind Denver and Memphis. Williamson has a team-best scoring average of 26.0 points this season, plus averages 7.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists on 61% shooting.
He’s led the Pelicans in scoring in 17 of his 29 games.
Williamson missed the entire 2021-22 season and was limited to 85 games in his first two seasons because of injuries. But this season, he’s been relatively healthy, until now.
He missed two games in October because of a contusion around his right hip and lower back; three games in November with a right foot contusion; and three games in December while in the NBA’s health and safety protocols.
The Pelicans are 6-2 without Williamson this season. They play host to Houston on Wednesday.
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