The New Orleans Pelicans face the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, seeking redemption after a blowout loss. Zion Williamson's ankle remains a key concern in their crucial matchup.
It was smooth sailing for the New Orleans Pelicans, riding into Sunday's matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers on a four-game win streak. Now, after losing by 20 points, they will have to bounce back against a Los Angeles Lakers team that has already beaten them three times this season.
The good news for the Pelicans is that they are dealing with their fewest injuries of the season. Here is the latest report from New Orleans:
Trey Alexander (G League two-way) - Out
Hunter Dickinson (G League two-way) - Out
Zion Williamson (right ankle sprain) - Questionable
There is a chance that this becomes the first game this year where they are completely active, if Williamson ends up able to play.
Either way, even if he does miss two straight games, this doesn't seem to be too major an injury. The team could choose to be extra cautious, given that this season is all but lost.
Williamson played in 35 straight games and could end up with this being his second-most active season. That's exactly what everyone wanted to see out of him coming into the year.
The 25-year-old did state that he expects to be back for this game during a Monday interview on ESPN.
The Lakers, on the other hand, don't have an injury report because everyone is healthy and available. LeBron James sits sometimes, but they had Sunday off and don't have a game on Wednesday, so there is no reason for Los Angeles to rest him.
This will be a huge test for the Pelicans. They will be facing a fully healthy, playoff-hopeful team. The last time that happened was near the beginning of February against the Minnesota Timberwolves, a game that New Orleans won.