Pelicans' Williamson 'definitely' playing Monday

METAIRIE, La. -- New Orleans Pelicans guardant Zion Williamson said helium expects to play Monday nighttime erstwhile the squad hosts the Golden State Warriors.

Williamson has missed 3 consecutive games aft suffering a close ft contusion past Saturday against the Houston Rockets. Speaking aft signifier Saturday, Williamson said his ft was "feeling a batch better."

"As of present I tin accidental I'm decidedly playing Monday," Williamson said. "I don't spot wherefore I wouldn't astatine this point. Had capable clip disconnected it. The symptom seems to beryllium gone astatine this point."

The wounded happened to the aforesaid ft Williamson broke successful the summertime of 2021 that caused him to miss the full 2021-22 season. He admitted that led to immoderate archetypal nerves.

"It was a infinitesimal wherever I was benignant of frightened like, 'Man, I ain't trying to spell done this again. I conscionable went done it,'" Williamson said. "But the scans were affirmative extracurricular of the bruise."

Pelicans manager Willie Green said the squad went done a airy signifier Saturday but Williamson was capable to enactment successful everything they did.

"He went done each of our drills, each of our work, got immoderate enactment successful the value room," Green said. "We'll person much of a sharper signifier time and get acceptable for Monday's game. Excited to person him back."

Williamson has missed 5 games this play aft missing 2 past period due to the fact that of a close hip/lower backmost contusion erstwhile helium took a nasty autumn connected a dunk attempt.

In 11 games, Williamson is averaging 23.5 points connected 56.6% shooting.

Second-year guardant Trey Murphy has started with Williamson out, but Murphy had to permission Friday night's nonaccomplishment against the Boston Celtics with soreness successful his close ft aft stepping connected Sam Hauser's ft successful the lane.

Murphy underwent imaging connected his ft precocious Friday night, and scans came backmost clean. Green said Murphy volition beryllium day-to-day, and the squad has diagnosed him with a close ft contusion.