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According to the Pelicans PR department, Zion Williamson is out for tonight’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers due to health and safety protocols.
Updated Pelicans injury report - 1.13 at LAC:
— Pelicans PR (@PelicansPR) January 13, 2021
Probable
JJ Redick - Right Hamstring Tightness
Questionable
Eric Bledsoe - Right Eye Irritation
Out
Lonzo Ball - Bilateral Knee Tendinopathy
Zion Williamson - Health & Safety Protocols
This not only marks a big blow for the New Orleans Pelicans in terms of available firepower against the Clippers tonight — and perhaps the rest of the current important road trip through the Western Conference, it puts into doubt the roster’s availability going forward. As we’ve seen with other teams thus far, when one player gets sidelined with Covid-19 related issues, other names soon get added to the list for the same reasoning as well.
The hope is that Williamson suffered either a false positive test or he missed a scheduled test. We saw occurrences of both in the preseason when Redick (false positive) and Bledsoe (missed a test) missed the exhibition opener against the Miami Heat.
Just a few days ago, the Pelicans starting lineup hadn’t skipped a beat, appearing together through the first nine games on the schedule. Now Zion Williamson and Lonzo Ball (bilateral knee tendinopathy) will miss the action tonight, and Eric Bledsoe (right eye irritation) and JJ Redick (right hamstring tightness) could join them on the sidelines as well.
Sigh.
Let’s hope and pray that Zion, if afflicted with the Covid-19 virus, makes a full and speedy recovery to his normal self again very soon.
UPDATE: An inconclusive test is to blame for Zion’s absence tonight. The Pelicans do not believe there should be an issue moving forward.
Source says Zion being out is related to inconclusive test and timing of the results of another test and team believes it’s nothing of significance. https://t.co/gKKa6qbxaN
— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) January 13, 2021
SVG on Zion's status moving forward: “He had inconclusive results, and the timing became a factor. He’s not with us here at the game tonight. He’s back in his hotel room. We’ll know more as further results come back.”
— Christian Clark (@cclark3000) January 14, 2021
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