Pels' Williamson downgraded to out vs. Mavs

NEW ORLEANS -- The Pelicans volition beryllium without 3 starters connected Tuesday nighttime arsenic the squad downgraded the statuses of Zion Williamson and Herbert Jones to retired precocious Tuesday morning.

Williamson (right posterior hip/lower backmost contusion) and Jones (right genu hyperextension) were some primitively listed arsenic questionable for the crippled against the Dallas Mavericks earlier being downgraded soon aft shootaround finished.

The Pelicans had already ruled retired guardant Brandon Ingram, who was placed into concussion protocol Monday day aft colliding with teammate Naji Marshall successful the Pelicans' crippled Sunday against the Utah Jazz.

The squad is optimistic Williamson and Jones could instrumentality connected the upcoming three-game West Coast roadworthy travel starting Friday nighttime successful Phoenix.

Williamson took a nasty autumn successful the crippled against the Jazz erstwhile his dunk effort was blocked by Jazz defender Jordan Clarkson. Williamson fell straight connected his backmost astatine the 8:07 people of the 4th quarter. After staying successful the crippled for 1 possession, Williamson checked retired for good.

In 3 games this season, Williamson has averaged 22 points and 6.7 rebounds per crippled connected 49.1% shooting.

Ingram was putting up 28.0 points per crippled successful New Orleans' archetypal 2 contests and was connected his mode to different large crippled -- 10 points connected 4-of-5 shooting successful 10 minutes against Utah -- earlier helium was forced to permission the game.