The New Orleans Pelicans have ruled out Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Jrue Holiday for Tuesday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings, the team said Monday.
Williamson and Ingram are listed as having right knee soreness, while Holiday is listed with a right elbow contusion.
Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said Monday that all three players were being held out for “precautionary” reasons.
“Obviously some of them have been banged up most of the season and stuff,” Gentry said. “But it’s just a precautionary thing, really. We sat down and just agreed that it’s the right thing to do right now.”
Williamson had surgery on his right knee to repair a torn meniscus just before the season started in October, and he missed the first 43 games. Ingram has missed eight games this season with various injuries (hand, knee, ankle), and Holiday has missed nine games, including seven in January with an elbow injury.
The Pelicans were officially eliminated from the playoffs Sunday with their loss to the San Antonio Spurs in the afternoon and the Portland Trail Blazers‘ win over the Philadelphia 76ers later in the day.
This will be the second game Williamson has missed in the bubble. He did not play on the second night of a back-to-back last Friday against the Washington Wizards as the team rested him.
New Orleans takes on Sacramento on Tuesday and finishes play in the bubble against the Orlando Magic on Thursday night.
In 24 games in his rookie season, Williamson is averaging 22.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 58.3% from the field.
