Zion Williamson injury update provides little hope to Pelicans during playoff push

New Orleans (35-37, 12th in Western Conference) is one of seven teams with multiple scenarios for how the season can end. One of the teams seeded sixth through 12th in the Western Conference will clinch a playoff spot by the end of the regular season. Four will compete in the conference's play-in tournament while the other two will turn their focus toward draft prep.

The Pelicans have the same record as the 11th-place Lakers and are just 1.5 games back of Golden State for sixth.

Once 23-13 and appearing like a lock for a top-four seed, New Orleans is 12-24 since Jan. 1 and has struggled mightily on the offensive end. The team averaged 117.6 points per game over its first 36 games but has averaged 110.4 points per game over its last 36.

Williamson hasn't played since suffering his hamstring injuring in the Pelicans' 120-111 loss to Philadelphia on Jan. 2.

The offense has improved of late, which could suggest better days are on the horizon. In its past five games, New Orleans is averaging 116.6 points per game and is 3-2 in those games, including wins in its past two.

The schedule going forward paints a less rosy picture.

Over its final 10 games, New Orleans only plays two teams — Charlotte and Portland — in the rearview of the playoff race. Its other eight games are against teams either headed for the postseason or jockeying with the the Pels for a spot in the Western Conference's top 10.

The Pelicans play at Golden State and Denver next week to conclude a four-game road trip. Denver is tied with the most home wins in the league this year with 30, and Golden State is right behind in a tie for the second-most home wins with 29.

The Pelicans play the Clippers twice, a week apart from each other on March 25 and April 1. Los Angeles is dealing with its own injury crisis with Paul George (knee sprain) expected to miss the rest of the regular season.

New Orleans' final homestand begins with the second Clippers game and also features games against Sacramento (43-29, third in Western Conference), Memphis (44-27, second in Western Conference) and New York (42-31, fifth in Eastern Conference).

If Williamson has a promising update, he could feasibly return for the games against the Grizzlies and Knicks, as well as the season finale at Minnesota (36-37, ninth in Western Conference), but any slip-up over the next two weeks could make the team's decision to bring Williamson back or not a whole lot easier.