!["I think your teammates [Pelicans] will respect you more if you try to give it a shot. This is the Playoffs, this is not preseason," Jackson said.](https://cdn-wp.thesportsrush.com/2023/04/99d62b30-zion-play-in.jpg?format=auto&w=3840&q=75)
The New Orleans Pelicans have a must-win matchup on their hands tonight. Hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder, it’s the Play-In matchup between the 9th and 10th seeds. Playing without Zion Williamson, the Pelicans fell down to the 9th seed on the last day of the regular season.
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The winner of the contest between these two teams will go on to face the Minnesota Timberwolves, who lost their Play-In Matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. The winner of that contest will earn the 8th seed, and go on to face the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs.
The one who loses between the Thunder and the Pelicans will go home as their season will come to an end. With so much at stake, people wonder whether Zion will suit up tonight or not.
Zion Williamson will NOT play tonight
Zion last played an NBA Game on 2nd January 2023. Since then, he’s been out with a hamstring injury. Last week, the former #1 pick was cleared for on-court activities, but there was no dates announced about his return.
Shams Charania of The Athletic revealed that Zion will miss the Play-In Tournament.
The Pelicans have ruled out Zion Williamson for the Play-In Tournament and his status is in doubt for start of potential playoff berth as well. https://t.co/IKmYMPT5qq
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 7, 2023
This means that he will not suit up tonight, or on Friday, in case the Pelicans end up winning tonight. After the practice yesterday, Zion spoke about the same as well. He claimed that his mental health is acting like a roadblock and will only play once he ‘feels like Zion‘ again.
The Pelicans will have to take care of business without him, which won’t be an easy task, considering how fiesty the Thunder are.
