Zion Williamson out against Los Angeles Clippers due to health and safety protocols

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.

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.

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