TITLE: Pelicans skid hits six while injuries pile up across Southwest Division
SLUG: pelicans-losing-streak-herb-jones-injury-sengun-wembanyama-updates
CONTENT:
New Orleans forward Zion Williamson poured in a season-best 35 points Friday night in Portland, his third consecutive 30-point outing, yet the Pelicans dropped their sixth straight contest, according to NOLA.com. Head coach James Borrego praised Williamson’s form, calling it “the best” the 25-year-old has looked recently, both mentally and physically.
The Pelicans were without four rotation players in the loss. Guard/forward Herbert Jones (right ankle sprain) will sit out a seventh straight game Sunday in Miami, while forward Saddiq Bey (right hip flexor strain) will miss his second in a row. Forward Trey Murphy III, whose designation shifted from lower-back soreness to low-back spasms, and rookie big man Derik Queen (left quad contusion) are listed as questionable against the Heat.
New Orleans is 5-5 with Jones since Borrego became interim coach and 1-13 without its top perimeter defender, the coach noted. “If we’ve got to get Herb back to hold people under 130, that’s unacceptable,” Borrego said.
Rockets lose Alperen Şengün to ankle sprain
Houston center Alperen Şengün exited just over a minute into Saturday’s game in Dallas after sustaining a lateral right ankle sprain and did not return, ESPN.com reported. The 24-year-old had only recently come back from a left soleus strain. Backup Steven Adams missed his second straight game with a right ankle sprain.
Wembanyama traveling, status uncertain
Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (hyperextended left knee) sat for a second consecutive game Saturday against Portland, but head coach Mitch Johnson told reporters the All-Star will travel to Memphis for Tuesday’s matchup with the Grizzlies. “He’s looking really good,” Johnson said, though he stopped short of confirming Wembanyama will play.
Keldon Johnson remains locker-room linchpin
Forward Keldon Johnson continues to set the cultural tone in San Antonio, The Athletic reported. “We’ve got a lot of big personalities, and we’ve got a face of the franchise,” coach Johnson said, “but that guy’s the heart and soul of the team.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
