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Offseason | NBA Week 26

Pelicans' Zion Williamson says return vs. Thunder 'realistic'

Tue Apr 23 5:35pm ET
Field Level Media

Sounding more than just optimistic, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson said Tuesday that it is "realistic" he can return from a left hamstring injury and join his team in the playoffs.

It is a bold statement, especially when considering the Pelicans are already in a 1-0 first-round hole to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have home-court advantage. The Thunder, top seed in the Western Conference, earned a 94-92 victory in the series opener Sunday.

"That is definitely realistic. That is absolutely realistic," Williamson said Tuesday about returning in the series. "But I've got to pass tests, get back to baseline and, hopefully, I'll be out there."

Williamson was injured during New Orleans' play-in tournament loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Without their star, the Pelicans rebounded to a 105-98 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Friday and landed the No. 8 seed in the West.


In 36 minutes against the Lakers, Williamson scored 40 points with 11 rebounds and looked every bit the star he was projected to be. But his latest injury is another in a long line of ailments that have come since he moved to the NBA in 2019. He missed the entire 2021-22 season with a foot injury.

Williamson also had a hamstring injury last season and did not play after Jan. 2, but is less concerned this time around.

"I knew something happened and it didn't feel anything like how it did on the right side (last season)," he said. "The right side was definitely sharper pain. This one didn't really feel like that. It just felt like, ‘Nah, something's off right now.' "

After first feeling like the latest injury was "demoralizing," Williamson, 23, is in a far better state of mind as he looks to bring his averages of 22.9 points and 5.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists into the series. His 70 games played in the regular season were a career best.

"At least it's not like (last season), so just build off that," Williamson said.

Player Notes
Terry Rozier Tue Apr 23 6:20pm

Miami Heat point guard Terry Rozier (neck) won't be ready to return to the lineup when the team continues its first-round series against Boston on Wednesday. He'll be sidelined for an eighth consecutive game due to neck spasms. Rozier's absence should secure a significant role for Delon Wright on Wednesday. His performance was one of only a few bright spots for Miami in Game 1, as Wright led both benches with 17 points, hitting a perfect 5-for-5 from deep. He also notched a pair of steals and handed out three assists.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Tue Apr 23 6:20pm

Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) has been officially ruled out for Tuesday's Game 2 against Indiana. The former MVP is expected to return to action at some point in the series, but it's only been a couple of weeks since he strained his left Soleus muscle, and Antetokounmpo needs more time to heal. Bobby Portis has taken over Antetokounmpo's position in the starting unit. He opened the first-round series with a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double. Meanwhile, Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton carry bigger loads offensively without Antetokounmpo.

Kawhi Leonard Tue Apr 23 2:50pm

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (knee) was present at the morning shootaround ahead of Game 2 on Tuesday versus the Dallas Mavericks. Dealing with inflammation in his right knee, Leonard hasn't played since March 31 and remains listed as questionable for the second game of the Western Conference quarterfinals. The 32-year-old two-way superstar's status is trending in the right direction but appears likely to come down to a game-time decision based on pregame warmups. Should Leonard remain out, James Harden and Paul George would dominate usage for the Clips as even more appealing DFS options on Tuesday's three-game slate. The sharpshooting Amir Coffey would figure to remain in LA's starting lineup as well, but he averaged only 11.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.7 three-pointers in 28.9 minutes over 13 games as a starter in the regular season.

Nikola Jokic Tue Apr 23 9:30am

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic cooked up a special line against the Lakers in Monday's 101-99 win, leading the team with 27 points and bagging 20 rebounds and 10 assists. It's his fourth career playoff game with at least 25 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists. There have been only four other occasions in NBA playoff history when a player has managed to record these numbers. Jokic's night included a pair of steals in 41 minutes on the floor, as he shot 9-for-16 from the field and 2-for-4 from downtown. The reigning Finals MVP fills up the stat sheet with ease and should continue to do so as the series shifts to L.A. later in the week.

Jamal Murray Tue Apr 23 9:20am

Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray salvaged his bad night with a strong finish and the game-winning shot in Monday's 101-99 victory over the Lakers. Murray put the Nuggets 2-0 up in the series by hitting a tough step-back 15-foot shot over Anthony Davis at the buzzer. Denver pulled off a 20-point comeback in the game, with Murray scoring 12 of his 20 points inside the final 7:15 of play. He failed to hit a single three-pointer with five attempts and finished 9-for-24 overall from the field. However, Murray also made a big impact defensively with a pair of blocks and registered three rebounds with five assists. Murray's shot has been off at the beginning of the series, but he's known as a very good postseason performer and should kick into gear soon.

LeBron James Tue Apr 23 9:10am

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James had a vintage playoff performance in Game 2 against Denver on Monday in a 101-99 loss. He produced 12 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and totaled eight rebounds, 12 assists, two steals, and two blocks. James was 3-for-6 with the three-ball and shot 9-for-19 overall. The NBA-s all-time leading scorer has now lost nine consecutive games against a single opponent for the first time in his 21-year career. He will try to spark a comeback in the series on Thursday when the two teams meet up in Los Angeles.

Anthony Davis Tue Apr 23 9:00am

Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis brought out all of his offensive moves to score a game-high 32 points in Monday's loss to Denver. Davis missed only five of his 19 shots and racked up 11 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block across 39 minutes. However, the Lakers needed one more swat from him, as Jamal Murray hit a 101-99 game-winner at the buzzer over Davis. The Lakers are now 2-0 down in the series, but Davis has been in outstanding form. He's averaged 32.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 blocks through the first couple of games.

Jarrett Allen Tue Apr 23 9:00am

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen dominated the glass in Monday's Game 2 win against the Magic, becoming the third player in franchise history to record 20-plus rebounds in a playoff game. He joined Kevin Love (21) and Brad Daugherty (20), gobbling up nine rebounds on the offensive end alone. The great work on the glass helped Allen to ease to a second consecutive double-double in the series, as he posted 16 points on 6-for-10 shooting. It was a productive night all around for the 28-year-old, with Allen completing his line with three assists, two steals, and two blocks. Allen also had 18 rebounds in Game 1, and Orlando clearly has to do better on the glass to have a chance in the series, which continues on Thursday.

Donovan Mitchell Tue Apr 23 8:50am

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell put together a full line in Monday's 96-86 Game 2 victory over Orlando, leading all scorers with 23 points and collecting eight rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block. It was a busy night for the Cavaliers superstar, although Mitchell struggled from downtown with a 2-for-10 effort. It dragged his overall shooting numbers down badly, as Mitchell finished 9-for-22 from the field. Mitchell's three-point shooting for the series now stands at 27.8 percent, but he's still enjoyed a good start to the playoffs, averaging 26.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.0 steals.

Kyle Anderson Tue Apr 23 8:40am

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson (hip) has been listed as questionable for Tuesday's Game 2 against Phoenix. Anderson hurt his right hip in the series opener at the weekend, playing only five minutes. Nickeil Alexander-Walker earned extra trust off the bench and had an outstanding day at the office on Saturday with 18 points, four rebounds, two assists, and four steals. Everybody's favorite sixth man, Naz Reid, should also eat up a few more minutes on Tuesday if Anderson can't play.

Josh Hart Mon Apr 22 10:50pm

New York Knicks forward Josh Hart had another big game on Monday night in the postseason win over the 76ers. He played all 48 minutes and finished with a double-double, amassing 21 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. The 29-year-old also got after it defensively by ending the evening with two steals and two blocks. Hart has been one of New York's top contributors, combining for 43 points and 28 rebounds in the series' first two games. With the Knicks now up two games to none, both clubs will meet again on Thursday in Philadelphia. DFS managers should expect the 2017 No. 30 overall pick to get all the work he can handle and remain heavily involved on both sides of the floor.

Mitchell Robinson Mon Apr 22 10:40pm

New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson cooled off in the Game 2 win over the Sixers. The big man logged 30 minutes in Game 1 to finish with eight points, 12 rebounds, four blocks, and one steal. However, he played only 18 minutes on Monday night and wasn't nearly as productive. Robinson could bounce back at some point in this series. Yet, with Isaiah Hartenstein in the equation, Robinson will remain a risky DFS option for Game 3 on Thursday evening.

Jalen Brunson Mon Apr 22 10:40pm

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson scored a team-high 24 points in Monday's win over Philly. He added eight rebounds and six assists. While the 27-year-old led the way on the scoring end, he still had trouble shooting the ball, going 8-for-29 from the field and 1-for-6 from deep. He posted similar shooting percentages in Game 1, so it's apparent the Sixers will continue to make him a focal point defensively. However, Brunson can get it done in multiple ways, keeping him on the radar as a top DFS option for any lineup when these clubs meet for Game 3 on Thursday night in Philadelphia.

Joel Embiid Mon Apr 22 10:40pm

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) had a double-double in Monday's loss to the Knicks. He tweaked his surgically repaired left knee in Game 1 on Saturday and was listed as questionable heading into this one. However, the reigning MVP logged 39 minutes and finished with 34 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. With the Sixers trailing two games, the series will head back to Philadelphia for Game 3. DFS managers should expect Embiid to appear on the injury report, just like he has since returning from his lengthy layoff. With that in mind, Embiid will remain one of the best fantasy options available, even though he's not fully healthy and has had issues shooting the ball in this series.

Tyrese Maxey Mon Apr 22 10:30pm

Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (illness) shed his questionable designation to suit up for Monday's postseason meeting with the Knicks. After scoring 33 points in Game 1, Maxey played even better in this one, scoring 35 points and adding 10 assists and eight rebounds. The 23-year-old had a lower DFS rostering cost entering Game 2, at least compared to some of the other potent guards on the slate. However, he certainly produced well beyond expectations. With the Sixers down two games to New York, the series will head back to Philly for Game 3 on Thursday night. Expect Maxey to continue to play heavy minutes and get a bulk of the scoring chances.

Jalen Suggs Mon Apr 22 8:50pm

Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (knee) returned to Monday's contest against the Cavs. The 22-year-old suffered a left knee strain in the first quarter and needed assistance to the locker room. It appeared his night was over. However, Suggs managed to return to start the second half. Without question, DFS managers who have him in their lineups are thrilled he's back on the floor. However, Suggs will likely appear on the injury report heading into Game 3.

Kawhi Leonard Mon Apr 22 8:30pm

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (knee) is questionable for Tuesday's postseason clash with the Mavericks. He has started practicing, although it's unknown how involved he actually was. With that in mind, DFS managers likely won't see him on Tuesday night. However, it appears there's at least a chance Leonard could return during the series with Dallas. Nonetheless, Paul George, Ivica Zubac, and James Harden should lead the way offensively while Leonard is out. At the same time, there's room for Russell Westbrook, Norman Powell, and Terance Mann to benefit on the scoring end.

Miles Bridges Mon Apr 22 8:10pm

According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.com, the Pistons might be interested in signing forward Miles Bridges this summer. After sitting out the 2022-23 campaign because of legal troubles, the 26-year-old amassed a career-high 21.0 points and 7.3 rebounds in 69 games with the Hornets this season. Of course, there will be more than a handful of teams expected to make an offer. However, Detroit will have the cap space during the offseason, although the interest could fade depending on who takes over as the president of basketball operations.

Malik Monk Mon Apr 22 8:00pm

Impending free-agent guard Malik Monk (knee) is expected to test free agency. While the Sixth Man of the Year favorite indicated his love for Sacramento, he could sign elsewhere for more money. Without question, Monk will command plenty of attention in the open market, especially from teams with cash to spend. The 26-year-old is coming off the best season of his career, averaging 15.4 points, 5.1 assists, and 2.9 rebounds in 72 games during the 2023-24 campaign. Unfortunately, he suffered a sprained MCL toward the end of the year and wasn't available for either of Sacramento's Play-In contests. Monk should be fully healthy by the start of the new season, although his fantasy outlook won't be known until he signs his next contract.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Mon Apr 22 7:50pm

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) is doubtful to play in Tuesday's game versus the Pacers. TNT's Jared Greenberg reported on Sunday that the team remains optimistic the multi-time MVP will be back at some point during the series against Indiana. However, he's not expected to play in Game 2 as he continues to work his way back from a left Soleus strain. Of course, Damian Lillard will stay a popular DFS option on Tuesday night, especially after scoring 35 points in Game 1. In addition, Bobby Portis and Khris Middleton, each amassing a double-double on Sunday, will also see more attention from fantasy managers if Antetokounmpo is officially ruled out.