NEW Orleans (AP) — The New Orleans Pelicans will be without star Zion Williamson for Wednesday night’s clash against the Portland Trail Blazers as he continues to navigate his recovery from a left pad sprain .
Williamson made his long-awaited return to the court Tuesday, marking his first game in nearly two months after missing 27 consecutive games. In an effort to shake off the rust, he scored 22 points in just under 28 minutes of play in a 104-97 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
After the match, the talented winger expressed optimism about his performance, but remained uncertain about his ability to handle back-to-back games so soon after returning from injury. “I definitely feel like my legs are already healed,” Williamson said after the game.
Pelicans coach Willie Green was equally encouraged, saying Williamson looked “as good as I’ve seen him after such a long absence.” »
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The comeback featured several impressive dunks, including a spectacular alley-oop by CJ McCollum and a solo 360-degree dunk that left fans in awe.
-Since being selected first overall by Duke in the 2019 NBA Draft, Williamson has suffered a series of injuries, playing in just seven of the Pelicans’ 37 games this season. In those games, New Orleans is 2-5, a stark contrast to their 5-25 record in his absence.
Additionally, wing Trey Murphy will also miss his second straight game with a sprained left ankle, adding to the Pelicans’ challenges.
After the game against Portland, the Pelicans must hit the road to face the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.
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