Ingram Dominates as Zion Williamson Misses Season Opener Due to Illness, Pelicans Triumph Over Bulls

Zion Williamson, the Pelicans’ star power forward, was unexpectedly scratched from the lineup for the team’s regular season opener against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night. Head coach Willie Green announced before the game that Williamson had been sick for the past couple of days and was not at the arena due to a viral illness.

“He’s not feeling well,” Green said, explaining Zion’s absence. Despite this setback, the Pelicans performed well without their key player. Brandon Ingram took charge, delivering an impressive 33-point performance that led the Pelicans to a 123-111 victory. CJ McCollum also contributed significantly, scoring 23 points, while newly-acquired guard Dejounte Murray made an impact with 14 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds.

Coach Green expressed hope that Williamson would be ready to return in time for the team’s upcoming four-game road trip, which kicks off against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday.

Zion, the first overall pick from Duke in the 2019 NBA Draft, played a career-high 70 games last season, averaging 22.9 points per game. However, his absence on Wednesday marked the 207th regular season game he’s missed in his injury-plagued career. In the 184 games Williamson has played, he has averaged an impressive 24.7 points per game.