In the final moments of a standout performance, Zion Williamson’s night took a sudden turn when he suffered a left leg injury. With 3:13 remaining and the Pelicans rallying for a comeback, Williamson’s game came to an end as he walked off the court in frustration.
Williamson’s stellar performance included 40 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists, with his layup tying the game at 95-95 against Lakers’ center Anthony Davis.
Game Impact and Lakers’ Victory
As Lakers coach Darvin Ham called for a timeout, Williamson showed discomfort as he headed to the bench. He briefly sat down, threw a towel, and walked away, signaling the end of his night.
The Pelicans struggled without Williamson, leading to a 110-106 victory for the Lakers, who secured the No. 7 seed in the NBA playoffs.
Postgame Update on Zion’s Condition
As the Pelicans prepare to face the Sacramento Kings, Williamson’s condition remains uncertain. After the game, coach Willie Green said, “Right now, it’s left leg soreness and he’s going to get imaging on it tomorrow. We will figure out more. That’s the report I got back. I haven’t talked to him. But we’ll see what happens tomorrow when we get the results back.”
Williamson played a career-high 71 games this season, but injuries have previously sidelined him from crucial games, including playoffs.
“That was everything that you could have hoped from Z,” Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. said. “He gave us everything. He was incredible tonight. You can’t ask for more from that kid. He was unbelievable.”
Said Green: “It was tough to see him go down. We are all praying and hoping he is OK. He was battling. He was going. The team was right there with him. It’s tough. We’ll see what happens and go from there.”