The Western Conference-worst New Orleans Pelicans will get Zion Williamson back in the lineup Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves for the first time since the oft-injured forward sustained a left hamstring strain in early November. (More NBA News)
🐻Williamson played in six of New Orleans’ first nine games and averaged 22.7 points, eight rebounds and 5.3 assists before getting injured.
✱The two-time All-Star has missed the last 27 games, with the banged-up Pelicans going 4-23 during that stretch as they’ve also been without fellow starters Brandon Ingram, Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum and Herbert Jones for long stretches this season.
♏New Orleans is 7-29 overall after going 49-33 and reaching the play-offs last season.
✅Williamson missed most of his first four campaigns because of injuries after the Pelicans selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, but he finally got through a regular season in good health in 2023-24.
ꦆWilliamson played in a career-high 70 games and led the Pelicans with 22.9 points per game while averaging 5.8 rebounds, five assists and 1.10 steals.
🍷However, he strained his left hamstring late in New Orleans’ first play-in game and wound up sitting out the remainder of the post-season.
