Pelicans’ Zion Williamson placed in health and safety protocols

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has been placed on the league’s health and safety protocols and will not play Thursday against the San Antonio Spurs.

Williamson has been a driving force this season for the Pelicans, who are 18-12 and in third place in the Western Conference. He is averaging 25.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 60.3% from the field.

The fourth-year pro has played in 25 of 30 games this season. He missed two games in late October with a lower back/right hip contusion and three games in mid-November with a right foot contusion.

New Orleans hosts San Antonio on Thursday night and travels to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder on Friday.

With Williamson, the Pelicans are also without a forward Brandon Ingram at least two more games,” coach Willie Green said earlier Wednesday. Ingram has been out since Nov. 25 after suffering a left big toe contusion against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Williamson has stepped up his game in Ingram’s absence. In the 11 games Ingram has missed, Williamson averages 28.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.5 steals and one block per game while shooting 63.5%. New Orleans is 7-4 this stretch, though they won their first seven before losing four in a row.

The Pelicans have struggled to get their big three of Williamson, Ingram and CJ McCollum together for long stretches this season. The three have been in the starting lineup together just 10 times this season. In 172 minutes over those 10 games, the Pelicans are averaging 120.9 points per 100 possessions when the three share the court.