The Pelicans and Pistons are gearing up for a Sunday afternoon rematch, and this one could look very different from their last meeting. Both teams are dealing with key injuries, which means rotations could get shuffled, roles might change, and the whole dynamic of the game could shift. But for New Orleans, all eyes are on one player—Zion Williamson.
His status? Still up in the air. Officially listed as questionable with a low back contusion, Zion picked up the injury right after dropping 29 points against the Timberwolves. He sat out the Pelicans’ last game, and now the team’s medical staff is playing it safe, waiting until the last minute to make a call on whether he will play against Detroit.
And let’s be real—given Zion’s injury history, the Pelicans might just decide to keep him out. They’re not exactly in a playoff race, and with the season winding down, they may not want to risk anything. But at the same time, if he’s good to go, he gives them a massive boost—especially considering how things went down the last time these two teams faced off.
The Pelicans aren’t just dealing with Zion’s injury, though. Jose Alvarado is questionable due to illness, and rookie Yves Missi is in the same boat, nursing some right hip soreness. Both guys started in that recent loss to the Timberwolves, so if they can’t go, it’s going to shake things up even more. And that’s on top of already being without Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, and Dejounte Murray—three key guys who are all out long-term.
Detroit’s got its own problems. Tim Hardaway Jr. is out with a right ankle sprain after tweaking it in their last game against the Mavericks, and Jaden Ivey is still sidelined with a left fibula fracture. Throw in a few guys missing due to G League assignments, and suddenly the Pistons’ depth is looking real thin—just as they’re pushing to lock in a playoff spot.
Pelicans looking for redemption after previous blowout with or without Zion
Last time these two teams met? Ugly doesn’t even begin to describe it. Detroit destroyed New Orleans 127-81, handing them one of the worst losses in franchise history. Now, the Pelicans have a shot at redemption—and if Zion plays, their chances get a whole lot better.
Because when Zion Williamson is on the floor against Detroit, he owns them. He’s averaging 30.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists in their past matchups, and even in that disastrous loss, he still managed to put up 30 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. If he’s out there, the Pelicans are a different team.
Credit: Imagn
For Detroit, this game matters. They’re sitting sixth in the East at 39-32, which—if they can hold onto it—means they avoid the Play-In and get a guaranteed playoff spot. Every win counts right now, so they need this one.
The Pelicans? Their season’s already over. Sitting at 19-52, they’re out of playoff contention and just trying to finish strong while figuring out what their roster looks like moving forward.
With injuries on both sides, this game could come down to which team is healthier and who’s got the fresher legs. If Zion Williamson plays, the Pelicans have a real shot at flipping the script after that embarrassing blowout. But if he sits? The Pistons might just take full advantage and keep their postseason push rolling.
The post Pelicans Drop Zion Williamson Injury Update Ahead of Clash Against Cade Cunningham’s Pistons appeared first on EssentiallySports.