Pelicans Left to Ponder What Could Have Been With Zion Williamson After Play-In Elimination by Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City Pulls Away From Pelicans

The Pelicans instead lost by five, 123-118, to Oklahoma City in front of a sparse crowd at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans to end their season as Williamson watched in street clothes.Oklahoma City advances to a second play-in game at Minnesota on Friday (9:30 p.m., ESPN) with the winner moving to the NBA Playoffs. “I can pretty much do everything,” Williamson said at a Pelicans’ practice on Tuesday. “If I was to go out there, I would be in my head. I would be in my head a lot, I would hesitate on certain moves, and that could affect the game. I don’t want to go out there and be in my own head and affect the team when I can just be on the sidelines supporting them more.”

Zion Williamson Could Have Helped

Five points from Zion could have been all that was needed to save the Pelicans. New Orleans led 63-57 at the half behind balanced scoring. But Oklahoma City outscored the Pelicans, 39-24, in the third period to take a 96-87 lead entering the fourth quarter. The Pelicans quickly erased that and took a 101-100 lead with 7:59 left.

After the game was tied several times, the atmosphere in the arena intensified. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a jumper to put the Oklahoma City Thunder ahead with 28.3 seconds left, ending the game with a total of 32 points. Josh Giddey also contributed 31 points, hitting two free throws to extend the lead to 117-114 with 12 seconds remaining. Although Brandon Ingram made a 3-pointer to reduce the deficit to 119-118 with only 2.8 seconds left, Gilgeous-Alexander scored four consecutive free throws to secure the win. Ingram finished the game with 30 points. Willie Green, the coach of New Orleans, criticized his team's lack of intensity towards the end of the third quarter before they made a comeback.

New Orleans Pelicans Could Have Used Zion Williamson

Williamson was averaging 26 points, 7 rebounds and 4.6 assists before being lost for the season. “Can I just give you a what if,” ESPN analyst Jalen Rose asked at halftime with the Pelicans ahead. “What if Zion is able to contribute to this Pelicans team?”. “Championship contention,” Stephen A. Smith answered. “Man,” Rose said.

“See if they’re able to get through tonight and then a win on Friday, and maybe we see Zion in the playoffs,”

What If?

We’ll never know. “If I feel like Zion, I’ll be out there,” Williamson said Tuesday. “The team and myself are being extra cautious, so it doesn’t happen again.” He now has six more months to get ready for the 2023-24 season.