Zion's Game Status In Question For Pelicans Home Game Versus Lowly Spurs

New Orleans ends it's current six-game home stand by hosting Wemby, Spurs on Friday night.

New Orleans, LA - The New Orleans Pelicans (45-31) host the last-place San Antonio Spurs (18-58) Friday night at the Smoothie King Center. New Orleans desperately needs a win to stay afloat in the Western Conference playoff standings. The Pelicans have dropped their last three games at home and are now in danger of sliding down into the NBA Play-In Tournament. With just six regular season games to play, the Pelicans are tied record-wise with the Phoenix Suns, but they hold the tiebreaker over New Orleans this season.

There are only two games in the loss column separating the sixth seed from the ninth seed. New Orleans faces uncertainty with a rash of injuries at an inconvenient time. Brandon Ingram will miss his eighth straight game with a hyperextended knee injury, while Jose Alvarado will miss again with a right oblique issue. Zion Williamson is now questionable for Friday's game with a left finger injury he suffered in Wednesday's loss to the Orlando Magic. Pelicans Coach Willie Green told reporters the X-rays on Williamson's finger were negative and that the star forward is day-to-day.

Whether Williamson plays or not, the Pelicans must find a way to generate more offense. During this six-game home stand, New Orleans is averaging just 106 points per game. Outside of a 16-point performance by Dyson Daniels on Wednesday, their bench has given them next to nothing production-wise during this stretch. Playing against the San Antonio Spurs should be the ticket for an offensive bounceback on Friday.

San Antonio ranks near the bottom in many statistical defensive categories, despite having a Defensive Player of the Year candidate in Victor Wembanyama. The rookie phenom leads the Spurs in many categories this season, including points (21.2), rebounds (10.5), blocks (3.5), and steals (1.3). He's been the lone bright in what has amounted to a miserable year for the Spurs, who need to win at least two more games to avoid the worst record in franchise history.

History is on the Pelicans' side in this matchup, where New Orleans has beaten San Antonio seven straight times. Fans in New Orleans will get the privilege of watching Wembanyama play up close for the first time. Wemby missed the previous game in New Orleans with an injury but is healthy for Friday night's game. The game ends a six-game homestand that the Pels are just 1-4 on in a rough patch heading toward the postseason. After Friday night, the Pels head on the road for four straight games before returning home to play the Los Angeles Lakers in the season finale.