Pelicans' Zion Williamson out vs. Mavericks with hip, lower back contusion
Williamson suffered the injury against the Jazz on Sunday
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Zion Williamson will not suit up in the New Orleans Pelicans’ fourth game of the 2022-2023 season due to a contusion suffered in a fall against the Utah Jazz on Sunday.
Williamson, who was originally listed as questionable prior to Tuesday’s shoot around, fell hard on his back after being blocked by Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson on a dunk attempt.
Zion Williamson of the Pelicans dunks the ball against the Utah Jazz on Oct. 23, 2022, at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. (Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)
After attempting to keep playing, Williamson exited and remained on the bench for the rest of the game against the Jazz.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Z's fall could've been much worse and doesn't seem like it is. Sore. Bruises. Brandon gets hit in the face. Herb's knee," New Orleans head coach Willie Green said Monday, according to ESPN. "Nothing catastrophic, but something we have to monitor over the next few days."
It’s the second injury for Williamson in the past few weeks, as the former first-overall pick tweaked his ankle during the preseason and sat out the Pelicans' final preseason game.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans dribbles against the Nets' Ben Simmons at Barclays Center on Oct. 19, 2022, in Brooklyn. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Williamson has been injured for the majority of his short NBA career, playing in just 85 games in his first three seasons in the NBA.
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New Orleans is hoping to build on a successful 2021-2022 campaign that saw them beat the Phoenix Suns twice in the NBA playoffs.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}They made the playoff run without Williamson, who missed the entire season with a broken foot.
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His return to the floor has bolstered the Pelicans' odds in the Western Conference as New Orleans continues to build with its young core.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Pelicans' Zion Williamson reacts during the Utah Jazz game at the Smoothie King Center on Oct. 23, 2022, in New Orleans. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
One of the members of the young core – Brandon Ingram – will also miss Tuesday night’s game against the Mavericks after entering the NBA’s concussion protocol.
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Ingram collided with a teammate on Sunday and was forced to exit the game in the second quarter.