Why Is Zion Williamson Not Playing Tonight? Pelicans vs Lakers Starting 5 Revealed
Fans have been manifesting Zion Williamson’s return for so long, they got their hopes up. There was some speculation that the forward would be back tonight against the Lakers. After all, Anthony Davis could pull off a comeback against his former team. This could’ve been how Williamson’s way to break the cycle of injuries derailing what should’ve been a superstar career. But that will have to wait a little longer. The Pelicans have dropped a report ahead of the matchup in Crypto.com Arena. It put all speculation to Zion Williamson’s status today.
Williamson is officially ruled out from tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers. He’s apparently not a 100% yet after suffering a left hamstring injury.
He did make a steady return to practice. On November 19, he played against the Denver Nuggets after being cleared for on-court activity. He recorded 14 points, six rebounds and five assists in 29 minutes in Pelicans’ 125-118 loss. He returned against the Warriors, tallying 25 points and 7 rebounds in another blowout loss.
That might have fueled rumors about his impending comeback as a complete rotation piece. The Pelicans however, are not playing him tonight for injury management reasons.
The rest of the injury report featured the usual suspects, including starters, Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones and Jordan Poole. New Orleans has made a few tweaks to the starting lineup tonight. Rookie wing Micah Peavy will join Saddiq Bey to start as forwards in Williamson’s place. Bryce McGowens and Jeremiah Fears are in the backcourt and rookie, Derik Queen will play center.
The very young starting lineup will have to contend against a relatively older Lakers lineup with formidable chemistry.
The Pelicans are treading lightly with Zion Williamson’s history
Zion Williamson has had two games to prove that he’s still a productive player. Yet you can’t fault the Pelicans for ‘managing’ his health. The lower back contusion that ended his 2024-25 season might be a non-issue now, but he’s still prone to injuries. Like the grade 1 hamstring strain at the season-opener that sidelined him for eight straight games.
It’s the Pelicans who are suffering the harsh reality of Williamson’s injury history, along with Trey Murphy, Herbert Jones, and Jordan Poole’s injuries. They come into this game as the worst team in the west, at the bottom of the barrel with a 3-17 record. There’s no expectation on them as they face the Lakers, a 14-4 team, second to only the defending champs, OKC with real championship contention.
Tonight LeBron James’ foot injury downgraded him to questionable. Marcus Smart will miss this game with him. Yet they have the same unforgiving backcourt in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura have their usual starting spots. Gabe Vincent will start in Bron’s place. If the Pelicans hold this group down, it will be a miracle.
New Orleans is probably waiting to experience what Dallas is right now. The Mavericks fired Nico Harrison, there’s a little more positivity there and some improvement within the team. The biggest sign was Anthony Davis’ return to practice after a month-long hiatus. After a few hints, AD got his wish to play against the Lakers the very next day.
The shorthanded Lakers still beat the Mavs 129-119. But Davis had a respectable 12 points and did improve the defensive performance of the team. With Zion back in practice, Pelicans fans want to enjoy the game again without the inevitable disappointment.
Warriors' could have potential new suitor for Jonathan Kuminga
Jonathan Kuminga's long-term future with the Golden State Warriors continues to be a talking point, both among the media and the fanbase. The explosive forward spent the entire summer locked in negotiations with the franchise before signing his new contract ahead of the season. Should Kuminga be made available on the trade market, multiple teams are expected to show an interest in his services.
According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Indiana Pacers could emerge as a new suitor for Kuminga. His athleticism, ability to get to the rim and versatile defense would fit perfectly with Rick Carlisle's run-and-gun system. Once Tyrese Haliburton returns from injury, he could help unlock Kuminga's scoring profile, which would be an exciting idea for the Pacers.
"One team that has quietly been scouting Kuminga dating back to the start of the 2024-25 season and has continued into this year is the Indiana Pacers,” Siegel reported. "...Interest from the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings will exist prior to the trade deadline, much like this past summer,” wrote Siegel. “It is unknown if the Chicago Bulls, who previously entertained the idea of pursuing Kuminga, will be interested this time around.”
When healthy, Kuminga has been a key part of Kerr's rotation to begin the season. In 14 games, he's averaging 13.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists, shooting 47.9% from the field and 33.3% from deep. However, it's likely that he would earn a more featured role in the Pacers' offense, and that could likely be a significant factor for Kuminga's continued development.
The Pacers have a string of young, talented players to include in any trade package. However, given the Warriors' desire to compete for a championship this season and in the years to come, they may prefer a ready-made contributor. Whether the Pacers would be willing to part with a core rotation member remains to be seen. Nevertheless, there's no denying that Kuminga would be a strong fit for the way the Pacers play.
