Taylor Bicht
2 min read • April 19, 2024
Posted in
Zion Williamson will miss Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a left hamstring strain he sustained during the final minutes of Tuesday's play-in tournament loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. The severity of the strain requires him to be re-evaluated in two weeks, which casts doubt on his availability for the entire first round of the playoffs. For Williamson to have a chance to return to the court this postseason, the New Orleans Pelicans would need to advance beyond the first round without him. This situation puts added pressure on the team to perform well in his absence, hoping to extend their playoff run long enough to allow their star player to recover and potentially rejoin the lineup.
The playmaking guard finished out the season playing in the last five games but missed the seven games before due to right knee inflammation. The guard previously dealt with a torn ACL in the same knee but the time sidelined was likely meant for Murray to be close to 100% going into the playoffs. Murray has dealt with shin splints for the majority of the second half along with multiple sprained ankles throughout the season.
Jarred Vanderbilt was diagnosed with a right mid-foot sprain, which has sidelined him since February 1st. As a result, he has participated in only 29 regular season games. The extent of his injury suggests that he will likely miss Game 1 against the Denver Nuggets and potentially additional games beyond that. Vanderbilt's absence has been significantly felt by the Lakers throughout the season, particularly in terms of his defensive prowess. His ability to impact the game on the defensive end has been a critical element that the Lakers have struggled to compensate for during his prolonged absence.
Karl-Anthony Towns faced a major challenge this season with a torn left meniscus, missing 18 games before returning for the last two regular season games. In these games, he played limited minutes, scoring a total of 21 points and falling short of his usual rebounding numbers. As the Minnesota Timberwolves head into their playoff series against the Phoenix Suns, Towns' offensive abilities are expected to recover faster than his defensive skills. This is crucial as the Timberwolves, who have the NBA's top-ranked defense, will rely on their collective defensive efforts to support Towns as he regains his full capabilities on the court.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, who received a PRP injection in early April to address inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee, may face challenges returning for the first round of the NBA playoffs. Despite Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue's hope to have Leonard back on the court soon, the full effects of PRP injections typically take about two weeks. Pro Basketball Doc suggests that even if Leonard got the injection on April 1st, his effectiveness or ability to suit up in the series is not guaranteed. While there's a possibility Leonard could play against the Mavericks in the first round, it's unlikely he'll play this Sunday. Leonard has not played since March 31st but had his healthiest season since joining the Clippers, playing in 68 games and averaging a career-high 34.3 minutes per game.
The Duke alum missed the final 8 games of the regular season due to a right knee sprain. head Coach Jason Kidd said he is on track to play Game 1 and if he indeed suits up will likely play limited minutes. To start season was picking up big minutes in the starting line-up but with the trade acquisitions of PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford, Lively II will likely continue coming off the bench even when fully healthy. Lively II enjoyed a solid rookie campaign averaging 8.8 ppg and 6.9 rebounds.
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Written by Taylor Bicht
