By Jalon DixonShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe New Orleans Pelicans could be without their biggest star Thursday night. Zion Williamson is listed as questionable with a right ankle sprain ahead of the team’s matchup with the Sacramento Kings.
New Orleans has leaned heavily on Williamson during stretches of the 2025-26 season, and his potential absence arrives at a difficult moment. The Pelicans enter the game at 19-44, sitting 13th in the Western Conference and looking to avoid their third consecutive loss.
The timing matters because this season has quietly been one of the healthier campaigns of Williamson’s career. Outside of a brief absence in November and December, the former No. 1 overall pick has largely stayed on the floor.
That availability has allowed the Pelicans to evaluate what their roster looks like when their franchise centerpiece is consistently active.
Williamson’s Availability Has Been a Rare Positive
...Injuries have followed Williamson throughout much of his NBA career, making this season notable for its relative stability.
The star forward has appeared in 46 games, averaging 21.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists while shooting an efficient 58 percent from the field. He has logged roughly 30 minutes per game, giving New Orleans a steady offensive presence.
Importantly, Williamson hadn’t missed back-to-back games since December 8 and December 11, a stretch that marked one of the few extended interruptions to his season.
More recently, the Pelicans gave Williamson a scheduled night off during a March 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers, ending a 35-game run of consistent appearances. Without him, New Orleans struggled defensively and fell 137-117.
Two nights later, Williamson returned against the Los Angeles Lakers and immediately produced. He scored 24 points on 10-of-18 shooting, adding four rebounds and one steal in 33 minutes. However, the Pelicans still came up short in a 110-101 loss, dropping their second straight game.
In short, Williamson’s individual production remains strong even as New Orleans continues to search for consistency.
Multiple Injuries Cloud Pelicans-Kings Matchup
...Williamson is not the only Pelicans player dealing with an injury entering Thursday’s game. Trey Murphy III is also listed as questionable due to a neck spasm, while guard Dejounte Murray remains out as he continues return-to-competition reconditioning.
Sacramento enters the game with an even longer injury list. The Kings will be without several key contributors, including:
- Zach LaVine (right fifth finger tendon repair)
- Domantas Sabonis (left knee meniscus repair)
- Keegan Murray (left ankle sprain)
- De’Andre Hunter (left eye retinal repair)
- Dylan Cardwell (left ankle sprain)
Those absences have played a major role in Sacramento’s difficult season. The Kings sit 14-49, the worst record in the Western Conference.
With both teams dealing with significant injuries, the availability of Williamson and Murphy could ultimately shape how Thursday night’s matchup unfolds. The Pelicans and Kings are scheduled to tip off at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday night at the Golden 1 Center.
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