The Pelicans will face a tough challenge as they compete for the Western Conference's final playoff spot.
After losing in the 7-vs-8 Play-In Tournament game on Wednesday, New Orleans will host Sacramento with the West's eighth seed on the line. The health of Zion Williamson hangs as a dark cloud over the Pelicans' chances to get a win.
In Tuesday's loss, Williamson was turning in a postseason debut for the ages, scoring 40 points and pulling down 11 rebounds before exiting with a hamstring injury and missing the game's most crucial moments. The Pelicans fought hard in Williamson's absence but did not have enough to get past the Lakers.
New Orleans now welcomes Sacramento in the final game of the 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament. The winner advances to the playoffs; the loser is eliminated from playoff contention.
Will the Pelicans have Williamson in the lineup? Here is what we know about his status for Friday's game.
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Is Zion Williamson playing tonight?
Williamson will not be available for New Orleans' Play-In Tournament game on Friday.
On Wednesday, the Pelicans announced that Williamson had suffered a left hamstring strain and would be evaluated in approximately two weeks. That timeline means Williamson will not be evaluated before May 1 and could not be cleared until the later stages of a potential first-round series.
Williamson averaged 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists while appearing in a career-high 70 games during the 2023-24 regular season. New Orleans posted a 42-28 record with him in the lineup and was 7-5 in the games he missed.
With a win on Friday, the Pelicans would travel to Oklahoma City to face the 1-seed Thunder in Game 1 of the first round on Sunday.
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What channel is Pelicans vs. Kings?
- Date: Friday, April 19
- TV channel: TNT
- Live streaming: Sling TV
The Pelicans and Kings will face off for the West's No. 8 seed Friday, April 19. The game will air on TNT. Viewers can also stream the game on Sling TV.
Fans in the U.S. can watch the NBA Play-In Tournament and playoffs on Sling TV. Sling is the home for avid sports fans offering a range of sports channels so you can always cheer for your favorite teams with channels like ESPN, TBS, TNT, NFL Network, FS1, and more.
What time is Pelicans vs. Kings tonight?
- Date: Friday, April 19
- Time: 9:30 p.m. ET | 6:00 p.m. PT
Friday's Play-In game between the Pelicans and Kings is scheduled to tip off around 9:30 p.m. ET from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
Play-In Tournament bracket
The Sixers advance to the #NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel!
— NBA (@NBA) April 18, 2024
The Heat and Bulls clash on Friday for a #SoFiPlayIn battle to capture the #8 seed in the East! pic.twitter.com/4Ct0QDcBkR
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