Zion Williamson will sit out Pelicans-Wizards, but only for rest

Zion Williamson will not suit up for the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night when they take on the Washington Wizards.

No need to start sobbing or screaming into a pillow over this, though. Williamson isn’t hurt, he’s just being held out for rest.

Williamson is 10 months removed from having surgery to repair a torn right meniscus, but the Pelicans are still being exceedingly careful with their star. His minutes have been limited, which he hasn’t been thrilled about.

It doesn’t help that the Pelicans are fading fast in the NBA bubble. They’ve gone 1-3 since the start of the seeding games and their playoffs hopes are disappearing before their eyes. Yet they remain favored by eight points against the short-handed Wizards. Being without Zion won’t make it any easier to climb out of the hole they’ve dug for themselves, but the Pels aren’t just focused on this season. They’re focused on the future, and they want to make sure Zion will be there for all the games they hope to win in the coming years.

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