Zion Williamson Exits Early with Illness as Pelicans Fall to Pistons
The New Orleans Pelicans were already walking a tightrope this season, and Wednesday night’s loss to the Detroit Pistons only made the rope feel thinner. The biggest blow? Zion Williamson, the team’s star forward and centerpiece, couldn’t finish the game due to an illness that had already put his status in question before tip-off.
Williamson gave it a go, suiting up despite feeling under the weather, but managed just 15 minutes on the floor before the team shut him down for the night. In that limited stint, he tallied four points on 2-of-5 shooting, grabbed four boards, and committed one turnover - a far cry from the explosive production fans have come to expect from the former No. 1 overall pick.
Heading into the matchup, Zion had been averaging 22.5 points on an ultra-efficient 58.5% from the field, along with 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in just under 30 minutes of action. His early exit meant the Pelicans had to scramble to fill the void - and against the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons, that’s no easy ask.
Detroit took full advantage of Zion’s absence, handing New Orleans a 112-104 loss and improving their own record to 31-10. Jalen Duren was a force for the Pistons, notching a double-double with 20 points and 15 rebounds, controlling the paint on both ends.
For the Pelicans, Saddiq Bey led the scoring effort with 20 points, though it came on a tough 4-for-12 shooting night. Bey did his damage at the line, going a perfect 11-for-11, showing some veteran savvy by drawing contact and cashing in. Trey Murphy III added 17 points on an efficient 6-of-9 shooting, giving the Pels a needed offensive spark, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Detroit’s depth and interior dominance.
Now sitting at 10-35, the Pelicans continue to search for answers in a season that’s been defined by inconsistency and, once again, injuries. Zion’s health remains a key storyline - when he’s on the court, New Orleans looks like a different team. But availability has always been the question, and Wednesday night was another reminder of how fragile this team’s foundation can be without him.
The Pelicans won’t have much time to regroup, as they head to Memphis on Friday to take on the Grizzlies. The hope, of course, is that Zion can recover quickly and return to action. Because if this team has any shot at salvaging the season, it starts with No. 1 being healthy and on the floor.