Without Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram again must carry Pelicans’ burden

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Nobody loves UNO basketball more than my guy Coach Slessinger. Picked up the pieces of a broken program and took them to the NCAA Tournament.

Sad to see my GOAT leave. Indiana State just got a good one.

Appreciate you legend!

Bam Adebayo spent years being groomed to be the next captain of the Heat.

At age 26, he's already seen so much. Yet, this new role is an even greater burden than he could've imagined.

Here's how he's learning to be the new caretaker of Heat Culture.

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Remember thinking this streak was in real danger heading into the final month of the season.

After BI got hurt, he went up another level. Averaged 27 ppg over the final 13 on 46/48/96 splits.

Jonas Valanciunas in the 12 games Zion missed this season:

17 points
10.4 rebounds
3 assists
1.1 blocks
61.4 FG%
7-5 record

Think JV's gonna play a really important role in tomorrow's game, especially if Sabonis tries to establish a physical presence early on.

The Heat announced that Jimmy Butler (knee) and Terry Rozier (neck) are both out for tomorrow's Play-In game vs Chicago.

Can confirm, don’t think BI missed a shot at practice today #Pelicans

Pelicans two-way guard Malcolm Hill made 2nd team All-G League

The expectation is Miami's Jimmy Butler will be out multiple weeks, sources said. Butler remarkably played the final three quarters vs. 76ers last night with what is now feared to be an MCL injury.

Yikes

The Heat lose to the Sixers, 105-104, in tonight's Play-In game in Philly.

The Heat will go back home and face the winner of Chicago/Atlanta on Friday. Winner gets Boston in the first round.

Butler is back on the court to start the 2nd quarter. Looks like he's OK.

Jimmy Butler just went down after getting fouled and started grabbing at his right knee.

Looked like he may have bumped knees with Kelly Oubre. Still unclear.

With Zion Williamson out for at least the next two weeks, Pelicans are in danger of becoming the second team in NBA history to miss the playoffs with 49 wins.

A two-week timeline also means Williamson would almost certainly miss at least the first four games of a potential first-round series against OKC.

Really tough news for Zion and the Pels.

Zion Williamson has been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain, per the Pelicans. He'll be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks.

That means the Pels will have to try and save their season without him on Friday in the Play-In game vs Sacramento.

Correct. Last year's injury was the right hamstring.

Williamson walked out of arena without a limp, per Will Guillory. New Orleans has a single-elimination Play-In Tournament game Friday for the No. 8 seed in West.