William Guillory

NEW ORLEANS — Sunday’s regular-season finale was supposed to be a coronation for the . They were returning home after four crucial road wins that allowed them to control their playoff destiny heading into their final game. A win over the on Sunday would’ve given the Pelicans: Their first five-game winning streak of the season. The No. 6 seed in the Western Conference and a guaranteed spot in the playoffs. The second 50-win season in franchise history. In addition, it was ’s first game back in t…

By Shams Charania, Alex Andrejev and William Guillory star will miss Friday’s Play-In game against the due to a left hamstring strain, the team announced. Williamson had an MRI on Wednesday morning and will be re-examined in two weeks. The 23-year-old until his night ended early when he exited in the final minutes of the matchup. coach Willie Green later described the injury as left leg soreness. Advertisement After the game, walked out of Smoothie King Center without any apparent mobility…

Editor’s note: The announced Wednesday that due to a hamstring strain. NEW ORLEANS — This was the game Pelicans fans waited five years to see from Zion Williamson. His performance on this stage, in this moment, was the stuff that makes legends. Then, it all went away in the blink of an eye. Most folks in the building didn’t know what happened until he was gone. A few of his teammates didn’t realize what was happening until it was too late. Advertisement The Pelicans superstar got his first ta…

MIAMI — Plenty of random items have entered ’s locker in Kaseya Center over the past seven years, but one has remained constant. It’s a short doll with Black skin, long white hair and a cigar hanging out the right side of its mouth. For fans of ’80s sports movies, it’s an unforgettable figure. Advertisement “It’s a Jobu doll,” former captain Udonis Haslem says. “It’s one of the most important things you’ll find in that locker room.” Jobu was the voodoo doll from the 1989 comedy “Major League” t…

NEW ORLEANS – When caught ’s kickout pass in the right corner, he thought about shooting it. He was open enough to get a clean look, and considering the night he was having, no one would’ve blamed him for letting it fly. Instead, he gave up a good shot for a great shot. As a defender sprinted his way, Marshall swung a quick pass to the wing, where fellow second-unit sparkplug stood alone. As soon as the ball hit Alvarado’s hands, Marshall held up three fingers and pointed them at Alvarado, as…

OKLAHOMA CITY — In a game that was as tense, physical and defensive-oriented as Game 1 between the and , every possession has to be handled with care. The opening salvo of this first-round series was an exhausting rock fight, and both sides struggled to throw a pebble into the ocean for most of the night. Advertisement With the score tied at 90 and less than two minutes remaining, every opportunity to score was like a gift from the basketball gods. So when the Pelicans grabbed three offensive r…

OKLAHOMA CITY – While the rest of his teammates stood in front of the scorer’s table going through their normal pregame handshake routine, stood in front of the bench alone. This was supposed to be the night he made his playoff debut – a moment he’s waited for his entire life – but that’ll have to wait until another day. Advertisement In Game 1 of the first-round series against the , Williamson was stuck in a situation he’s experienced far too often. While his team took the floor in anticipat…

OKLAHOMA CITY — rarely allows his frustration to show after tough losses, but the center was seething as he sat at the podium for Wednesday night’s postgame news conference. “It sucks losing,” he said. “More, it sucks losing like that.” While his assessment wasn’t complex, it was a fitting description of the Pelicans’ horrid performance in their in Game 2 of their first-round series. Advertisement Losses happen. Falling behind 0-2 in a series and against a talented squad like the shouldn’t…

By Joe Vardon, Josh Robbins, John Hollinger and William Guillory The handled the with ease Saturday, taking a 3-0 series lead behind a 106-85 runaway victory to set up a potential sweep Monday night. The Thunder outscored the Pelicans each quarter and never trailed after the 7:25 mark of the first quarter. They forced 20 New Orleans turnovers and capitalized by hitting 17 3-pointers to the Pelicans’ nine. Advertisement led all scorers with 24 points, one of three Oklahoma City starters with 20…

NEW ORLEANS — As soon as got the steal, was off to the races. It was a situation that felt familiar to them. After ’s bullet pass under the basket bounced off hands, Alvarado snatched the loose ball and kicked it ahead to Marshall, who was already in a full sprint toward the other basket. Advertisement These are the plays where the thrived all season. Force a turnover on one end, and score a basket on the other. New Orleans has looked unrecognizable in this year’s playoffs. But for a split-s…