Zion Williamson leaves game late, status unclear for next game

Emiliano Carchia @Sportando
New Orleans Pelicans’s Zion Williamson suffered a hamstring injury sportando.basketball/en/new-orleans… – 1:57 AM

Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
MIA-PHI feels similar to NOLA-LAL today. Zion, like Embiid v. MIA, could’ve closed out the Lakers at home if not for injury. Like LeBron & AD, Butler/Bam CAN keep it close on the road. Not sure they’ll overcome a full Embiid appearance. All eyes on the big man’s health though. – 1:21 AM

Clemente Almanza @CAlmanza1007
So either the Kings without Huerter and Monk or the Pelicans with a hobbled Zion and Ingram… I think I like the Thunder’s chances of making it past the 1st Round even more now – 12:41 AM

Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Pelicans open as -2.5 favorites over the Kings despite the uncertainty surrounding Zion’s health. – 12:40 AM

Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
Williamson walked out of arena without a limp, per @WillGuillory. New Orleans has a single-elimination Play-In Tournament game Friday for the No. 8 seed in West. – 12:37 AM

Joe Mussatto @joe_mussatto
The biggest winner tonight? Oklahoma City.
The No. 1 seed Thunder avoids the nightmare Lakers matchup, avoids the veteran Warriors, and now awaits either the Pelicans (Zion???) or Kings in the first round. – 12:36 AM

Jake Madison @NOLAJake
Zion Williamson’s injury cost New Orleans Pelicans a Play-In win over LeBron James and Lakers
youtube.com/watch?v=VT4zjF… pic.twitter.com/bwPxzSNh8a – 12:01 AM

CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
Lakers vs. Pelicans: What we learned from Play-In game featuring full Zion Williamson experience
(By @SamQuinnCBS)
cbssports.com/nba/news/laker… – 11:43 PM

Jim Eichenhofer @Jim_Eichenhofer
Zion Williamson’s status will be determined after he undergoes imaging and testing Wednesday. The two-time All-Star power forward exited the play-in loss to the Lakers in the fourth quarter due to a left leg injury. More: neworlns.co/3vYBSqD pic.twitter.com/JKVwlZHBkN – 11:36 PM

Christian Clark @cclark_13
Zion nearly willed the Pelicans to a win before having to come off at the 3:13 mark with….we don’t know.
Willie Green called it “left leg soreness.”
The Pelicans have one more chance to punch their ticket to the playoffs. nola.com/sports/pelican… – 11:29 PM

Jeff Stotts @InStreetClothes
Hard to provide much context for Zion with such limited info. Most of his prior injuries (MCL, meniscus, hamstring) have involved his opposite (right) leg but testing tomorrow will paint a clearer picture. – 10:44 PM

CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
Zion Williamson injury: Pelicans star exits in crunch time vs. Lakers with ‘left leg soreness’
cbssports.com/nba/news/zion-… – 10:33 PM

Michael Scotto @MikeAScotto
Zion Williamson has left leg soreness and will have imaging done tomorrow, Pelicans coach Willie Green tells reporters following tonight’s Play-In Tournament loss to the Lakers. pic.twitter.com/knfkHYH825 – 10:32 PM

Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
Zion Williamson has left leg soreness and will get imaging done tomorrow, per head coach Willie Green. pic.twitter.com/bXBof47uWu – 10:30 PM

Christian Clark @cclark_13
Willie Green called Zion’s injury “left leg soreness.” Said Zion will have medical imaging done. Didn’t know if it was his knee or foot. – 10:29 PM

Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Zion Williamson has soreness in his left leg and is slated for medical imagining, per Willie Green. He is unclear what body part was injured. No other information is available at this time. – 10:27 PM

Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Willie Green calls Zion Williamson’s injury left leg soreness and he’ll get imaging on it tomorrow.
Green said he didn’t see if it was a knee or a foot Zion injured. – 10:26 PM

Jim Eichenhofer @Jim_Eichenhofer
Willie Green said Zion Williamson has “left leg soreness” and will get imaging tomorrow – 10:26 PM

Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
Willie Green says it’s left leg soreness for Zion Williamson and he will get imaging done tomorrow. – 10:26 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram combined for 8 total minutes in the 4th quarter. pic.twitter.com/EF8HXhx8xV – 10:22 PM

Kevin O’Connor @KevinOConnorNBA
Zion Williamson was awesome tonight. Best overall game he ever played. Cannot believe he got hurt. Hope he’s ok and it’s not major. pic.twitter.com/pSvVpiLyPy – 10:20 PM

Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
What a performance by Zion before leaving with an injury 🙏 pic.twitter.com/g7nKdIsY1t – 10:19 PM

Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
That should’ve been Zion’s “I’ve arrived” moment on the big stage. Just a brutal injury. Hopefully he’s ok for Friday. – 10:19 PM

Nick Wright @getnickwright
So… do we have any idea what happened to Zion? – 10:19 PM

Jim Eichenhofer @Jim_Eichenhofer
Lakers stave off #Pelicans 2nd-half rally and 40 points from Zion Williamson, winning play-in game 110-106 to reach West playoffs. Williamson left game late in fourth quarter due to apparent injury. Pels will host Sac or GSW Friday. Postgame wrap: neworlns.co/49HzMJB pic.twitter.com/8BRNCgzhc0 – 10:16 PM

Kendrick Perkins @KendrickPerkins
Lakers earned that win! But Willie Green benching Ingram the entire 4th especially when Zion went out was a bit interesting. – 10:14 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
If only Zion Williamson didn’t get hurt and miss the final three minutes. pic.twitter.com/Th2QQQC4jx – 10:14 PM

Will Guillory @WillGuillory
As if losing Zion Williamson wasn’t heartbreaking enough tonight, now the concern is how healthy will he be by Friday when the Pels have to play either GSW or SAC with the season on the line. – 10:14 PM

Mark Giannotto @mgiannotto
That game summed up why New Orleans isn’t legit threat in the west moving forward. Highest paid player (McCollum) looked old, 2nd-highest paid player (Zion) had 40 but couldn’t finish due to injury. 3rd and 4th highest paid players (Ingram, Valanciunas) got benched down stretch. – 10:14 PM

Scott Kushner @ScottDKushner
Tough night once Zion went down. Pels fought their ass off.
No complaints from me. – 10:12 PM

Michael Pina @MichaelVPina
Hope Zion is healthy enough to play in N.O.’s next game. Badly want to see him in a playoff series. – 10:12 PM

Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
In his first postseason game, Zion Williamson was absolutely money. He was the best player on the floor in the 2nd half and gave the Pelicans a real chance to win.
40 points
11 rebounds
5 assists
17-27 FGs
1 steal
1 block
But right now, we’re all left wondering about his status – 10:12 PM

David Aldridge @davidaldridgedc
Cruel outcome for Zion Williamson, and for the Pelicans. He’s been terrific this season. Now, New Orleans will hold its breath for a couple of days to see if it gets its superstar back for a win or go home game Friday against the Warriors-Kings winner. And: how do the Pels handle… – 10:11 PM

Anthony Slater @anthonyVslater
Lakers beat the Pelicans. Winner of Warriors-Kings will travel to New Orleans for a Friday night game against a Pelicans team that just lost Zion Williamson to a late injury (status unknown) and sat Brandon Ingram in crunch time. – 10:11 PM

Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Final: Lakers 110, Pelicans 106
Williamson 40 pts, 11 rebs, 5 assts
Murphy 12 pts
McCollum 9 pts (4-15 FG)
Zion Williamson’s injury late in the 4th quarter spoils what could’ve been an epic comeback for the Pels. Pels will play winner of GSW/SAC in do-or-die game on Friday. – 10:11 PM

Tom Haberstroh @tomhaberstroh
Zion Williamson
+3 – 10:10 PM

Christian Clark @cclark_13
Final: Lakers 110, Pelicans 106
Zion scored 40 points (17 of 27 FG). He was incredible. Tough to watch his night end like that…
New Orleans has lost 6 straight home games. Needs to win Friday to keep its season alive. – 10:10 PM

Kevin O’Connor @KevinOConnorNBA
No Zion and no Ingram in the biggest moment of the season after a full year of watching them FINALLY play together. So weird. So confusing. What a bummer for Pelicans fans. What the hell happened? – 10:09 PM

Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Pelicans fall 110-106 to Lakers. Tough loss. After trailing by 18, game was tied at 95 after Zion Williamson scored, but he immediately exited with presumably an injury.
Pels have 1 more chance to make playoffs. Will face winner of tonight’s Warriors-Kings matchup Friday at SKC. – 10:09 PM

Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
Pelicans lose to the Lakers, 110-106.
Zion Williamson had 40 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists but missed the final 3:13 after going to the locker room with an injury.
We hope to know more shortly when we talk to Willie Green.
Pels play Kings-Warriors winner at home Friday. – 10:08 PM

Jake Madison @NOLAJake
That performance from Zion, the fight back from the Pelicans and their defense in the 4th…only to have an injury derail it is so rough – 10:06 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Zion in his first postseason game:
40 PTS
11 REB
5 AST
17-27 FG
Get well soon. statmuse.com/nba/player/zio… – 10:06 PM

Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Regardless of Zion’s injury, not getting the rebound after that LeBron miss is brutal. – 10:05 PM

Will Guillory @WillGuillory
For Zion to play as well as he did tonight and it ends with him in the locker room due to injury.
Man, that’s tough. – 10:01 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Can’t really see what happened to Zion, but my guess is hamstring. Particularly since it seemed to be a familiar if dreadful feeling for him. – 10:01 PM

Jim Eichenhofer @Jim_Eichenhofer
CJ McCollum sinks a must-have mid-range shot to cut it to LA 104-102 with 38 seconds left. Zion is still not back on the bench, but Pels will try to get this done – 10:01 PM

Will Guillory @WillGuillory
DLo with a huge corner 3 to put the Lakers up 104-100 with 50.3 seconds left. Still no sign off Zion Williamson after went to the locker room.
If the Pels can’t get a bucket here, this one might be over. – 9:59 PM

Chris Vernon @ChrisVernonShow
i cannot believe Zion had to go to the locker room. that is the absolute worst. he was being everything we dreamed he would be in biggest spot too. gross. 🤦🏼‍ – 9:56 PM

Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
LeBron James scores a tough jumper over Herb Jones, but Trey Murphy responds with a runner over Anthony Davis.
Pelicans not laying down just because Zion Williamson isn’t in the game. – 9:56 PM

Sam Vecenie @Sam_Vecenie
This is pretty unreal from Zion. Superstar stuff in the biggest game of his career – 9:55 PM

John Hollinger @johnhollinger
Zion injury followed by phantom foul. Pelicans are cursed. – 9:55 PM

Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
LeBron James cleared out CJ McCollum with his off arm but no call. Instead Trey Murphy gets whistled for a personal foul.
Crowd remains stunned by Zion Williamson leaving the floor, but everyone is standing and still celebrating positive plays. – 9:54 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Zion went to the locker room into that that last time out. He threw a towel and appeared to be understandably upset. Not sure what happened. – 9:54 PM

Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
There’s a video of Zion heading to the locker room next to the word “Bummer” on dictionary dot com. – 9:54 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Dammit, man. Zion in the middle of a 40-piece leading the comeback and heads to the back with an injury. Absolutely sucks – 9:54 PM

Chris Herring @Herring_NBA
I *hate* that Zion had to exit. Man is playing his tail off. – 9:54 PM

Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
Zion Williamson went to the back during that timeout. – 9:53 PM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
A moment of recognition for the most significant night of Zion Williamson’s career thus far. Coming off 12 pts on 4-for-13 shooting Sunday, he has 40 pts on 17-for-27 tonight, 11 reb, 5 ast and has helped erase an 18-point lead for the Lakers. – 9:53 PM

Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Zion is just absolutely obliterating LeBron and AD in the second half – 9:52 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
NOP’s defensive unit of Alvarado, Murphy, Jones, Zion and Nance has impacted what LAL want to do, and Zion’s taking care of the offense. LeBron and AD are trying to find the extra energy, but Zion has plenty, now up to 40 points on 17 for 27 FG’s.
Tie game with 3:13 left. – 9:52 PM

Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Zion Williamson just made Anthony Davis look beyond average defensively on that drive and score. All tied up at 95 apiece.
Problem is, Zion just walked down the tunnel and presumably to the locker room. – 9:52 PM

John Hollinger @johnhollinger
Zion taking this shit over my goodness … now can we please pair him with a stretch 5 – 9:52 PM

Christian Clark @cclark_13
Zion headed back to the locker room. Tied at 95 with 3:13 to go. – 9:52 PM

Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Why is Zion mad – 9:52 PM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
The Lakers call timeout after that Zion Williamson bucket. He’s up to 40. The game is tied 95-95 with 3:13 left. LA has looked gassed these last few minutes. The offense has stagnated. Pelicans’ trapping and swarming has disrupted their flow. – 9:52 PM

Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Zion Williamson goes thru AD’s chest for another bucket. He’s got 40 points.
It’s the second time in his career scoring 40+ points in a game. – 9:51 PM

Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
Zion looks like he’s playing on rookie mode this is crazy lol – 9:50 PM

Will Guillory @WillGuillory
The Zion Williamson “postseason” debut has been everything you could’ve asked for. He’s been incredible tonight. – 9:50 PM

J. Kyle Mann @jkylemann
ZION – 9:49 PM

Christian Clark @cclark_13
Season-high 38 points for Zion Williamson. He has been a monster. – 9:49 PM

Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
Hell of a time to bring out the spin off alley oop to Zion. – 9:49 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Williamson dunk incoming. – 9:48 PM

Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Nice call by Willie Green during the timeout. Easy dunk for Zion Williamson.
Will be interesting to see if Willie closes with this lineup: Jose-Trey-Herb-Zion-Larry. – 9:48 PM

Zach Kram @zachkram
Zion Williamson: 34 points on 24 shots
Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum combined: 16 points on 24 shots – 9:46 PM

Michael Pina @MichaelVPina
*looks at calendar* we’ve only been waiting 5 years for this zion game – 9:45 PM

Dalton Johnson @DaltonJ_Johnson
So Zion being on the floor helps? – 9:44 PM

Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Zion Williamson reentered the game and immediately scored on a lay-in, Trey Murphy hit a 3 and now Z is going to the FT line.
He makes 1 of 2. It’s a 5-point game with 6:12 remaining. – 9:42 PM

Jake Madison @NOLAJake
Zion has delivered tonight – 9:41 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Zion has already played 32 minutes, 3 more than LeBron and 1 more than AD.
Zion and AD both get a rest to start the 4th, with LeBron running things for LAL. – 9:30 PM

Christian Clark @cclark_13
Lakers’ lead down to 7 going into the fourth quarter. Zion has 31 points. Done his part. Next-closest Pelican — Brandon Ingram — has 11 points. Big plays from Trey at the end of the quarter. – 9:28 PM

Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Thru 3 quarters:
Zion Williamson — 31 pts, 13-23 FG
Rest of Pelicans 45 pts, 17-48 FG – 9:27 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LAL missed a pair of open 3’s in the final minutes of the 3rd Q, and New Orleans responded with a 6-0 run including 1 of 2 Zion FT’s with 0.4 seconds left, to trim LAL’s lead to 83-76 with 12 minutes to play. – 9:26 PM

Will Guillory @WillGuillory
End of 3rd: Lakers 83, Pelicans 76
Williamson 31 pts, 10 rebs
Ingram 11 pts (4-11 FG)
Jones 10 pts
Zion has been sensational tonight. He just can’t get any help from his teammates on offense. They did show some life late in the 3rd. Gotta get BI/CJ going at some point. – 9:26 PM

Jake Madison @NOLAJake
Pelicans showed life at the end of the 3rd quarter. Need to keep that momentum going. Great play by Zion to take over. – 9:25 PM

Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
D’Angelo Russell misses wide open 3 — hasn’t scored since first half — and Trey Murphy gets the rebound, dribbles down and hits a long bomb, his first of the night. After a block of Prince’s jumper, Zion Williamson appeared to get fouled at 3rd QTR buzzer. Referees reviewing. – 9:24 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Big response from Zion individually from a scoring standpoint relative to Sunday: he’s converted 12 of 18 FG’s for a game-best 26 points. But Ingram’s 2nd on NOP with 11, and the Pels have hit only 5 3-pointers on the evening.
LAL lead 75-61 with 5:08 to go in the 3rd. – 9:15 PM

Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Zion Williamson’s been spectacular. After scoring the last six points for the Pelicans, he’s up to 26 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists, as the Pelicans trail 75-61 with 5:08 left in the third. But someone else has to give help.
Zion: 12-18 FG (66%)
Rest of Pels: 13-42 FG (31.0%) – 9:14 PM

Mike Prada @MikePradaNBA
I think it’s Zion at 5 time – 9:07 PM

Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
LeBron taking a charge on Zion looks exactly like you’d imagine it pic.twitter.com/GxomJis7OM – 9:07 PM

Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Pelicans just tried to force the basketball into Zion Williamson’s hands in the post twice. Two straight turnovers.
Not a good sign to look this discombobulated out of halftime. – 9:01 PM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
After Zion scored 20 pts in the first half, LeBron has come out paying extra attention to him in the 3rd Q. He’s already taken a charge on him and fronted/broken up two entry passes. – 9:00 PM

Nick DePaula @NickDePaula
Lakers / Pelicans kicks:
• LeBron – LeBron 21
• Zion – Zion 3
• AD – LeBron 21
• Larry Nance – Air Jordan 13 pic.twitter.com/3F9BP3cqz8 – 9:00 PM

John Karalis @John_Karalis
LeBron taking a charge on Zion
youtu.be/9xjT_Qi5q4U?si… – 8:59 PM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
Taking a charge from Zion is pure bravery. – 8:59 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron, who took a pair of charges on Zion back in the In-Season Tournament Semifinal, just took another here early in the 3rd Q, Zion’s 3rd PF. – 8:57 PM

Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Whyyyyy did LeBron try to take a charge on Zion of all people – 8:57 PM

Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
Zion needed just 4.5 seconds to go coast-to-coast to beat the buzzer 🚨
(via @PelicansNBA)
pic.twitter.com/cnvaz7k47I – 8:46 PM

Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Zion was a monster in the first half. Love how he has competed this season – 8:44 PM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
Halftime: Lakers 60, Pelicans 50.
Zion Williamson with a coast-to-coast buzzer-beating layup. Lakers won the 2Q 34-16, but allowed the Pelicans to close out on a 6-2 run. LeBron James: 15 points, five assists, four rebounds. D’Angelo Russell: 15 points, six assists. – 8:41 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
After dominating NOP in the 2nd with a 34-14 margin, LAL bungled the final 21 seconds, failing to hold on for the last shot (instead turning it over w/4 sec. left) and then reaching in on Zion at midcourt before his eventual layup ahead of the buzzer.
Nonetheless, LAL up 60-50. – 8:41 PM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
Zion goes coast to coast to get a layup to go at the buzzer and LAL takes a 60-50 lead into the half. LeBron 15 pts 5 ast 4 reb; D-Lo 15 pts 6 ast; Vincent with 6 pts and 1 stl in 8 extremely-effective minutes. Zion leads NOP with 20 pts on 9-of-15 shooting 8 reb 3 ast. – 8:41 PM

Michael Grange @michaelgrange
It’s amazing what Zion Williamson can do at 6-3, 6-4 … – 8:40 PM

Will Guillory @WillGuillory
End of 1st half: Lakers 60, Pelicans 50
Williamson 20 pts, 8 rebs
Ingram 9 pts
McCollum 5 pts (2-9 FG)
Pels were outscored 34-16 in the 2nd. The offense came screeching to a halt. Gotta keep the ball moving. And they’ve gotta get something from JV/Larry. Those minutes were bad. – 8:40 PM

Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
I know LeBron was frustrated there but idk what you’re supposed to do with Zion when he’s going like that. – 8:40 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Not sure what LeBron was mad about after his gamble in the backcourt gave Zion a free run? He didn’t like Prince letting Zion go left maybe? – 8:40 PM

Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
Lakers outscore the Pelicans 34-16 in the second quarter to take a 60-50 lead into halftime.
Zion goes coast-to-coast in 4.5 seconds to get a layup at the halftime buzzer to energize the crowd but it’s one of just a few things that went right for the Pels in the 2Q. – 8:39 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Zion at half:
20 PTS
8 REB
Already more points than he had on Sunday against the Lakers.
statmuse.com/nba/player/zio… – 8:39 PM

Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Zion Williamson hits runner at the buzzer, but Pelicans trail the Lakers 60-50 at halftime.
Ghastly 2nd quarter for Pels — outscored 34-16. Offense dried up (CJ/Trey have been ice cold), meanwhile Lakers stayed hot from 3, got out in transition & began to get to the foul line. – 8:39 PM

Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
I often marvel at this Zion Williamson guy. Fun half! – 8:39 PM

Christian Clark @cclark_13
Pelicans had a 10-point lead early in the second quarter. They’ll go into halftime down 10. Zion scored at the buzzer. He has 20. He needs some help. New Orleans 4 of 16 from 3. – 8:39 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Zion at half:
18 PTS
8 REB
Already more points than he had on Sunday against the Lakers.
statmuse.com/nba/player/zio… – 8:38 PM

Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
not taking a charge against zion unless im read my last rites first. – 8:37 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Love Zion going quickly vs Prince after getting the switch. – 8:32 PM

Stephen Noh @StephNoh
LeBron continuing to sag way off Zion pic.twitter.com/NcekzDM3YM – 8:20 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Zion Game 1: 12 points, 8 assists, 8 rebounds
Zion already tonight: 16 points, 7 boards, 3 assists
LAL lead 44-42 midway through the 2nd Q, nonetheless, after a Hachimura 3. – 8:19 PM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
The Lakers putting Taurean Prince on Zion Williamson is certainly a choice. – 8:17 PM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
Quick 9-0 run by the Lakers here that was seemingly ignited by a ridiculously-impressive Zion Williamson block on LeBron James. – 8:11 PM

Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
Zion has already attempted a 3, hit a fadeaway in the lane and hit a 15-foot pull-up jumper.
He’s looking for his shot more rather just trying to do everything in the lane tonight. – 8:10 PM

Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Zion Williamson just stuffed LeBron James from behind. #WOW – 8:10 PM

Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Zion Williamson opens up the second quarter by hitting a pull-up from the elbow.
Didn’t think I’d be typing that today but here we are. – 8:09 PM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
First quarter: Pelicans 34, Lakers 26
The Lakers were outscored 11-5 over the final 3:50 with LeBron off the floor. DLo has 13 points and 4 assists. AD has 5 points on just 2-of-6 shooting. LA is shooting 34.6%. Zion (10 points) has nearly matched his total from last game (12). – 8:07 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron sat with LAL trailing 23-21, and New Orleans finished the period on an 11-5 run to lead by 8 at 34-26.
Zion got untracked with LeBron sitting, hitting 5 of 6 FG’s, 3 of which came in that final stretch.
Lakers shot just 34.6% against increased NOP ball pressure. – 8:07 PM

Will Guillory @WillGuillory
End of 1st: Pelicans 34, Lakers 26
Williamson 10 pts, 6 rebs
Jones 7 pts
Ingram 5 pts
The activity on the Pels’ side has been infinitely better than it was on Sunday. AD has missed a couple bunnies at the rim, but the Pels are flying around on D. – 8:06 PM

Christian Clark @cclark_13
Zion caught a little rhythm with LeBron on the bench. Pelicans outscored Lakers 16-4 in the paint. They lead 34-26 after the first. – 8:06 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Fantastic first for Zion. He’s attacked the rim when he’s had the matchup, and when Lakers have loaded up he’s set up 3s. – 8:05 PM

Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
Zion slips past LeBron AND AD for the score 😲
(via @NBAonTNT)
pic.twitter.com/ffVvNN3yGk – 7:54 PM

Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
LeBron James just sat down, so what does Willie Green do? He quickly puts Zion Williamson right back into the game.
Let’s see if this pays off. – 7:53 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Love Pels going to the rarely used Zion as screener. He got it at the 3 point line with Reaves in his path, but took the 3 instead. Pels should be able to get good stuff out of that because you can’t go under on CJ and you can’t switch a guard onto Zion. – 7:47 PM

Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
That Ingram to Zion connection 🤝
(via @NBAonTNT)
pic.twitter.com/Nte1CA4vAe – 7:46 PM

Stephen Noh @StephNoh
LeBron is sagging WAY off Zion on every play to start this one. pic.twitter.com/nNRO1shu1d – 7:42 PM

Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
Think the #Lakers sneak by but this should be a good one. Saw NOLA -1. They’re so overdue to make the playoffs in this Zion era. All they have to do is win a game they should be in prime position, but LeBron… – 7:36 PM

Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Pelicans starters:
CJ McCollum
Herb Jones
Brandon Ingram
Zion Williamson
Jonas Valanciunas – 7:06 PM

Tas Melas @TasMelas
Lakers-Pelicans things to watch:
—LeBron’s drop defense on Zion and if Williamson will keep taking mid-range jumpers/Pels setting picks so Z gets downhill
—Whether Pelicans help defense will be alive unlike Sunday
—Ingram’s second game back, if him and Z will be rolling together – 6:46 PM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
For the sickos who like to watch, Tuesday’s @LockedOnLakers pod, on YouTube! We preview tonight’s Lakers-Pelicans 7-seed play-in game with @NOLAJake with @lockedonpels! LeBron v. Zion! How will the Pelicans guard AD? @LockedOnNetwork @LockedOnNBAPods
youtu.be/HPuKbDbusks?t=1 – 4:03 PM

NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
Who needs to have a better game tonight, AD or Zion? 👀
@KendrickPerkins says the pressure is on Zion. pic.twitter.com/MqBo4vB83A – 3:37 PM

Jim Eichenhofer @Jim_Eichenhofer
#Pelicans shootaround update ahead of play-in home game vs. Lakers at 6:30 p.m. (New Orleans needs drastic improvement at defensive end after Lakers flourished in paint Sunday; reducing turnovers is key; Zion first postseason game in #NBA): neworlns.co/4aXnTjK pic.twitter.com/2lgczBvlyf – 12:36 PM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Tuesday’s @LockedOnLakers podcast! We preview tonight’s Lakers-Pelicans 7/8 seed play-in with @NOLAJake from @lockedonpels. LeBron! Zion! AD! BI! D’Lo! How will the matchups and adjustments shake out? @LockedOnNetwork @LockedOnNBAPods
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pla… – 10:30 AM

CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
2024 NBA Playoffs: Damian Lillard, James Harden, Zion Williamson among players under most postseason pressure
(By @bradbotkincbs) cbssports.com/nba/news/2024-… – 10:14 AM

Nick Wright @getnickwright
My All NBA Teams Are:
1st Team: Luka, SGA, Giannis, Tatum, Jokic
2nd Team: Brunson, Edwards, LeBron, KD, AD
3rd Team: Steph, Fox, Booker, Kawhi, PG
Toughest Omissions: Brown, Halliburton, Paolo, Wemby, Gobert, Sabonis, Zion. – 8:11 AM