The Pelicans made a rather noteworthy addition to their injury report Wednesday evening.
With the Bulls and Pelicans set to square off in Chicago on Thursday, Zion Williamson has officially been downgraded to questionable. The rookie phenom appears to be working through a right toe sprain.
Williamson made his season debut for the Pelicans on January 23 after missing the team's first 44 games due to surgery he underwent in October to repair a torn right lateral meniscus. In seven games, he's averaging 19.6 points and 8 rebounds per game on impressive 54.6% field goal shooting (44.4% from 3-point range).
The Pelicans intentionally began by easing Williamson back in to game action, but he logged over 30 minutes in each of the team's last two games. Williamson is coming off probably his worst game since returning, but still notched 20 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists against the Bucks, including one impressive steal of Giannis Antetokounmpo:
Bulls fans will also remember the 29 points (and flurry of dunks) he dropped in a preseason bout at the United Center back in October. He's outstanding.
As for the Bulls, Daniel Gafford (ankle) and Denzel Valentine (hamstring) are both officially listed as doubtful.
NBA
Gafford returned in the team's last game against Toronto after missing nine games with a dislocated thumb, but appeared to roll his ankle in the first quarter; his injury designation is a right ankle sprain. Valentine sat out of practice on Tuesday with hamstring tightness, which is what lands him on the report.
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