Update: Zion Williamson To Miss Friday's Play-In Vs. Sacramento With Hamstring Strain

Zion Williamson was everything Tuesday night the New Orleans Pelicans thought he would be when they drafted him with the first pick of the 2019 NBA Draft, but wasn't through most of his injury-plagued first four years with the team.

In his first-ever postseason game finally in year five, though, the fleet-footed, 6-foot-6, 284-pound bulldozer from Duke dominated the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James, Anthony Davis and anyone else who tried to defend him in a play-in game at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. He scored a season-high 40 points on 17-of-27 shooting with 11 rebounds and five assists.

It was the first 40-point, 10-rebound game of his up-and-down career and missed his career-high point total by three. He was Charles Barkley, who regularly ran over and/or pushed everyone around at 6-6 and 252 during his NBA days with Philadelphia and Phoenix. Interestingly, Barkley said before the game that Williamson, 23, should dominate James, 39.

And he did.

Zion Williamson Strained Hamstring With 3:19 To Go

Until 3:19 remained, that is. Williamson had just soared by Davis, a 6-10 former Pelican, and other Lakers for another layup and his 39th and 40th points for a 95-95 tie at that point. This brought his Pelicans back from a 73-55 deficit midway through the third quater and an 83-76 deficit to open the final period. He was on his way to maybe 50 points. 

A frustrated Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans nearly rips off his jersey after straining his left hamstring with 3:19 to go and leaving the game. The Lakers beat the Pels, 110-106, Tuesday night in a play-in game at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

As soon as he landed after that last shot, though, he noticed something wrong with his left leg, and pointed at the bench for medical treatment. The unraveling Lakers called a timeout at 3:13, and Williamson nearly pulled off his jersey, threw a towel in disgust and left the court for the rest of the game. The Lakers took advantage of his large absence and won, 110-106, to advance to the NBA Playoffs and an opener on the road against defending champion Denver on Saturday (8:30 p.m. eastern, ABC/ESPN).

Zion Williamson Has Battled Injuries Throughout NBA Career

Williamson left the court and missed the rest of the game. The Pelicans confirmed on Wednesday afternoon following an MRI on Williamson that he strained his left hamstring and that he will miss the Pelicans' next play-in game on Friday against Sacramento in New Orleans (9:30 p.m., TNT/truTV). Sacramento eliminated Golden State in the late play-in game Tuesday night. 

Should New Orleans beat Sacramento and advance to the NBA Playoffs against Oklahoma City on Sunday (9:30 p.m., TNT), Williamson is also expected to miss that game. The Pelicans said they plan to reevaluate Williamson in two weeks. So unless the Pelicans advance deep into the playoffs, which they have never done, Williamson's season is likely over after leading the Pels to their best regular season at 49-33 since they had that same record in the 2008-09 season.

New Orleans' star forward Brandon Ingram also missed the end of Tuesday's game as he remained on the bench even after Williamson left as Ingram is trying to come back from a knee injury. He scored 11 points in 25 minutes. 

Pelicans' fans and Williamson are very used to his injuries. Williamson's 2022-23 season ended on Jan. 2 after 29 games because of a right hamstring injury. He missed the entire 2020-21 season with a broken right foot. He missed all seven of the Pelicans' playoff or play-in games while with the team with various injuries. 

RELATED: Zion Williamson When Healthy Is Among The Best

Zion Williamson walks laboriously off the court after injuring his left hamstring with 3:19 to play in the Pelicans' 110-106 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in a play-in game at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Tuesday night. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

"It was tough to see him go down," New Orleans coach Willie Green said. "He was battling. He was going. And the team was right there with him, so it's tough. When he's attacking like that, he's a tough match-up for anybody. If we have him for a few more minutes, maybe we have a chance to pull this thing out."

LeBron James Heaps Praise On Zion Williamson

After missing 214 of 328 games in his first four seasons for various injuries, Williamson was enjoying his healthiest season since playing in 61 games in 2020-21. He played in 70 regular season games this season, averaging 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and five assists. He played 36 minutes Tuesday, scoring 10 points in each quarter.

Since dropping 25 pounds by early in the season, Williamson has been on fire. He had put his team on his back Tuesday as he had through flashes of his career. He left a mark on the 6-9 LeBron, who often couldn't stop him head on or was faked out by him. Williamson blocked one of LeBron's shots from behind and ran behind him for a dunk on another play. Each time, LeBron turned his head around as if to say, ‘Where’d he come from?"

"He's going to be great for a long time," said James, who scored 23 on just 6-of-20 shooting, but with nine rebounds, nine assists, three steals and two blocks. James also had his way with Williamson on occasion - once side stepping him for a dipsy-do layup.

"He had a slow start to the season this year, but shoot, he's a generational player, a generational talent," James said. "He's going to continue to get better and better and better. Tonight was just a small microcosm of how great he can be."

Could this have been two ships passing in the night in New Orleans - with Williamson finally coming into his own and LeBron nearing the end?

"His ability to get down hill, finish versus smalls, finish versus bigs, taller guys, shorter guys, it doesn't matter," James said. "And, one thing about him, he's not afraid to compete. That's a great thing. He's a star."

"It's tough, obviously," said New Orleans guard Trey Murphy III, who scored 12 off the bench. "Especially with all the work Zion's put in and played a career-high 71 games. You wish the best for him. And it definitely sucks."