Zion Williamson seemed emphatic that a return to the court before the postseason is over was “absolutely realistic” when he spoke to reporters on Tuesday.
Williamson, 23, is trying to overcome a left hamstring strain that he suffered on April 16 in the Pelicans’ play-in tournament game against the Lakers.
The injury kept him out of the Pels’ elimination game win over the Kings and it was expected that Williamson would be out for the rest of the postseason before Tuesday’s update.
Zion Williamson believes he could return to the Pelicans before the playoffs are over. Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports “That is definitely realistic. That is absolutely realistic,” Williamson said. “I got to pass tests, get back to baseline and hopefully I’ll be out there.”
Williamson called the injury initially “super demoralizing” after the season that he had for the Pelicans and the fact that he had a 40-point night against the Lakers in the first game of the play-in tournament.
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The injury occurred on his final basket of the game with just three minutes left in the contest.
Williamson went up against the Lakers’ Anthony Davis in the paint and after his lob shot fell, he came up grimacing.
The Pelicans star was seen shortly after on the bench before he slammed a towel down in frustration and then walked down the tunnel toward the New Orleans locker room.
“When I went to rise I felt it,” Williamson explained about the moment he felt the injury. “Super frustrating especially at that point in the game, super frustrating. But my team, my teammates they handled business and here we are in the playoffs. That’s still exciting, I’m excited for them and hopefully, I’ll be able to return to the court.”
The Pelicans fell to the Thunder in the first game of the best-of-seven series on Sunday in a nailbiter of a loss.
Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) goes to the basket ahead of Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis. AP Playing without Williamson makes the Pelicans’ chances of winning the series tougher.
Game 2 is slated to take place on Wednesday at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
