New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has been ruled out of Friday’s play-in tournament elimination game against the Sacramento Kings with a left hamstring strain, the team announced Wednesday.
The Pelicans said an MRI on Wednesday confirmed the injury and Williamson will be reevaluated in approximately two weeks.
He had 40 points and 11 rebounds — the first 40-10 game of his professional career — before exiting a tied game with 3:13 remaining in Tuesday’s play-in loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Williamson played in a career-high 70 games this season and was playing in his first non-regular-season game of his career. He missed the Pelicans’ two play-in games in 2022 because of injury as well as their playoff series. He also sat out the team’s play-in game last season because of an injury.
The Pelicans were 7-5 in games without Williamson this season.