Zion Williamson suffers injury in Pelicans' loss

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson was injured in the loss to the Lakers. Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Zion Williamson suffers injury after scoring his 40th point

By Sean Keane | Last updated 4/17/24

Zion Williamson’s career was encapsulated by Tuesday’s play-in game: dominant scoring cut short by injury.

40 POINTS now for Zion in the #SoFiPlayIn! https://t.co/ZFtcV3tLt0 pic.twitter.com/wtGR2vzY65
— NBA (@NBA) April 17, 2024

Williamson scored his 40th point in the first postseason game of his young career. The bucket tied the Pelicans-Lakers game 95-95, but Williamson immediately headed to the locker room with an undisclosed injury.

Zion Williamson is heading to the locker room pic.twitter.com/TanEvaKm2v
— Ahn Fire Digital (@AhnFireDigital) April 17, 2024

He finished 17-for-27 from the field with 40 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.

With Williamson out, the Pelicans offense bogged down, and the team missed his defense and rebounding, with Anthony Davis grabbing a crucial offensive rebound off a LeBron James miss with 15 seconds to go.

AD grabs his 15th board.
None bigger than this one.

He hits 2 FTs to put the Lakers up 4 in the #SoFiPlayIn!

14.8 left on TNT, NOP ball. pic.twitter.com/RgQO5iesg4
— NBA (@NBA) April 17, 2024

The Lakers held on for a 110-106 win. Next, they’ll face the Denver Nuggets, while the Pelicans will await the winner of Kings-Warriors and, most likely, an MRI of Zion Williamson’s leg.

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