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