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Andrew LopezGAME
METAIRIE, La. — New Orleans Pelicans front Zion Williamson has returned to on-court activities but will still be reevaluated in two weeks due to a right hamstring strain that has kept him out of action since January 2.
A two-week reassessment will be April 5, with the Pelicans only three regular games of the season left from that point – compared with the remaining two weeks. Memphis (April 5), New York (April 7) and Minnesota (April 9).
Pelicans coach Willie Green said Williamson’s return before the end of the regular season is definitely a possibility.
“I can’t confirm that he’ll be back, but we’ll see,” Green said on Wednesday. “It’s been hugely positive for him and our team. It’s been one of those years where he started well, went into an All-Star game and it was difficult to treat injuries. That’s part of it. of the game, but it is certainly very difficult.
“So I’m sure he was relieved when he started to feel normal again lying on the floor.”
Green said Williamson is not doing much on the field at the moment because the team is approaching more slowly with the injury.
Williamson initially injured his hamstring on January 2, but he recovered it before the All-Star break as he geared up for his return.
“He started moving a little bit, running, shooting,” Green said. “But we’re taking it a little slow.”
Green added that Williamson is “excited” to take the next step in his rehabilitation to participate in more basketball activities.
Pelicans are 35-37 and bound to Los Angeles Lakers for 11th place in the Western Conference rankings. They are 1.5 games away from sixth place – and could avoid the play-in tournament.
Williamson is averaging 26.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in the 29 games he’s played in this season and will certainly be a driving force for a team that wouldn’t be the same without him.
New Orleans was 23-14 when Williamson was injured, and the Pelicans’ 12-23 score without him puts them in the group of five with the lowest win rate since.
protect pelicans Jose Alvaradowho has been out since February 27 with a stress response in the right tibia, has shown gradual improvement and will continue with rehabilitation and be reassessed in two to three weeks .
