:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72165983/1249482833.0.jpg "Zion Williamson injury update: Will Pelicans PF play in play-in game vs. Thunder in 2023 NBA playoffs?")
The New Orleans Pelicans will have to win two games in the play-in tournament to get to the main 2023 NBA playoffs, starting with Wednesday's contest against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Pelicans looked like a contender at the beginning of the season but slipped significantly in the standings since Zion Williamson's injury. The star power forward still has no official timetable for return, which means his status for Wednesday's game is up in the air.
Zion Williamson injury updates
Williamson has already been ruled out for the play-in game, and the team has said he's unlikely to play in the first round of the playoffs if the Pelicans make it that far. This has been a rough rehabilitation process for Williamson, who missed all of last season with a foot injury. This hamstring issue has lingered for a while now, and Williamson can't seem to clear the final hurdles to return to game action.