However, after the 122-113 defeat to San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night, Pelicans are now out of the playoff race. This also means that we won’t get to watch the highly anticipated playoff duel between Pelicans’ rookie Zion Williamson and LA Lakers’ star LeBron James.

Williamson was one of the leaders for Pelicans against Spurs, dropping 25 points and seven rebounds, while JJ Redick dropped 31 points. However, that wasn’t enough to route the experienced Spurs, who were propelled to win by DeMar DeRozan’s 27 points while four other players were in double digits.

The loss against Spurs was New Orleans’ fourth in the bubble, leaving them two games behind the No.9 seeded Portland Trail Blazers. But since Blazers own the tiebreaker, no matter how the rest of the regular season plays out, Pelicans lost even the chance to find themselves in the play-in tournament.

There is going to be a tight race for the No. 8 in the West as four teams—Grizzlies, Blazers, Spurs, and Phoenix Suns – find themselves within 1.5 games. Sacramento Kings were previously eliminated from the playoffs race as well.

The post Zion Williamson and Pelicans Eliminated From NBA Playoffs Race appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Williamson, who was No.1 pick in 2019 NBA Draft, decided to leave the NBA camp on July 16 to attend to “an urgent family matter.” Pelicans said at the time that they are fully supportive of the player’s decision while rejecting to make further comments on the matter.

The organization now issued a statement in which they revealed that Williamson has been tested for coronavirus on a daily basis since departing and has produced negative tests so far. New Orleans added that there is “no current timetable for his return to campus” but expect the 20-year-old player back at some point.

Under current NBA protocols, Zion Williamson will have to quarantine for four days upon his return under the condition that he produced daily negative test for seven days straight. If not, he will have to spend up to 10 days in isolation.

Williamson missed the most of the 2019/20 season with a knee injury, but he still managed to put an impressive showing in his first season in NBA. He played 19 games so far and contributed with 23.6 points, 6.8 rebound, and 2.2 assists per game.

On Wednesday night, New Orleans Pelicans played their first exhibition game in Orlando, getting a massive 99-68 win against Brooklyn Nets. Their first regular-season game of NBA restart is scheduled on July 31st when they are set to play Utah Jazz.

The post Pelicans Provide an Update on Zion Williamson: “He Fully Intends to Rejoin the Team” appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Now, since Pelicans got the spot in NBA’s 22-team plan to restart the season in Orlando, Williamson will get another chance to show why he was made the first overall pick in this year’s draft. And, according to David Griffin, the Pelicans’ executive vice president of basketball operations, he’s more than ready to do so.

“Zion has been diligent about taking care of himself,” said Griffin. “He’s in a good space physically and mentally.”

Sources close to the team even went a step further, telling ESPN that the league is in for a surprise once Williamson returns.

“He’s going to shock some people,” said the sources.

Having a healthy Zion Williamson will be of utmost importance for Pelicans considering that they are one of the teams that will be fighting for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference. Pelicans are currently 3.5 games behind No.8 seeded Memphis Grizzlies, sharing the record with Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings.

Williamson played 19 games so far in the NBA and averaged 23.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.2 points per game.

The post Pelicans’ Zion Williamson Reportedly in Great Shape Ahead of NBA Restart appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

However, after the 122-113 defeat to San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night, Pelicans are now out of the playoff race. This also means that we won’t get to watch the highly anticipated playoff duel between Pelicans’ rookie Zion Williamson and LA Lakers’ star LeBron James.

Williamson was one of the leaders for Pelicans against Spurs, dropping 25 points and seven rebounds, while JJ Redick dropped 31 points. However, that wasn’t enough to route the experienced Spurs, who were propelled to win by DeMar DeRozan’s 27 points while four other players were in double digits.

The loss against Spurs was New Orleans’ fourth in the bubble, leaving them two games behind the No.9 seeded Portland Trail Blazers. But since Blazers own the tiebreaker, no matter how the rest of the regular season plays out, Pelicans lost even the chance to find themselves in the play-in tournament.

There is going to be a tight race for the No. 8 in the West as four teams—Grizzlies, Blazers, Spurs, and Phoenix Suns – find themselves within 1.5 games. Sacramento Kings were previously eliminated from the playoffs race as well.

The post Zion Williamson and Pelicans Eliminated From NBA Playoffs Race appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Williamson, who was No.1 pick in 2019 NBA Draft, decided to leave the NBA camp on July 16 to attend to “an urgent family matter.” Pelicans said at the time that they are fully supportive of the player’s decision while rejecting to make further comments on the matter.

The organization now issued a statement in which they revealed that Williamson has been tested for coronavirus on a daily basis since departing and has produced negative tests so far. New Orleans added that there is “no current timetable for his return to campus” but expect the 20-year-old player back at some point.

Under current NBA protocols, Zion Williamson will have to quarantine for four days upon his return under the condition that he produced daily negative test for seven days straight. If not, he will have to spend up to 10 days in isolation.

Williamson missed the most of the 2019/20 season with a knee injury, but he still managed to put an impressive showing in his first season in NBA. He played 19 games so far and contributed with 23.6 points, 6.8 rebound, and 2.2 assists per game.

On Wednesday night, New Orleans Pelicans played their first exhibition game in Orlando, getting a massive 99-68 win against Brooklyn Nets. Their first regular-season game of NBA restart is scheduled on July 31st when they are set to play Utah Jazz.

The post Pelicans Provide an Update on Zion Williamson: “He Fully Intends to Rejoin the Team” appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Now, since Pelicans got the spot in NBA’s 22-team plan to restart the season in Orlando, Williamson will get another chance to show why he was made the first overall pick in this year’s draft. And, according to David Griffin, the Pelicans’ executive vice president of basketball operations, he’s more than ready to do so.

“Zion has been diligent about taking care of himself,” said Griffin. “He’s in a good space physically and mentally.”

Sources close to the team even went a step further, telling ESPN that the league is in for a surprise once Williamson returns.

“He’s going to shock some people,” said the sources.

Having a healthy Zion Williamson will be of utmost importance for Pelicans considering that they are one of the teams that will be fighting for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference. Pelicans are currently 3.5 games behind No.8 seeded Memphis Grizzlies, sharing the record with Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings.

Williamson played 19 games so far in the NBA and averaged 23.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.2 points per game.

The post Pelicans’ Zion Williamson Reportedly in Great Shape Ahead of NBA Restart appeared first on yoursportspot.com.