Blue Devil Country

Duke basketball great Zion Williamson suffers scary fall

Two Duke basketball stars left the New Orleans Pelicans game with injuries.

Matt Giles

Former Duke basketball forward Zion Williamson (Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports)
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There's no telling if Duke basketball products Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram will miss future games for the New Orleans Pelicans (2-1) due to their injuries in Sunday night's 122-121 home overtime loss against the surprisingly undefeated Utah Jazz (3-0).

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With eight minutes to play in the fourth quarter, Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson had an impressive block on a Williamson dunk attempt in transition, causing the fourth-year NBA Blue Devil to fall hard on his tailbone.

Williamson exited the game and did not return, not even for overtime, suggesting extreme caution by the Pelicans or something a tad more serious. The 2018-19 Duke basketball one-and-done sat out all last season recovering from a foot injury and was playing in front of a packed home crowd for the first time since his rookie season.

When Williamson fell, the Pelicans trailed by 14 points at 102-88.

Oddly enough, without Williamson or fellow former Duke basketball one-and-done Brandon Ingram, who permanently left the floor in the second quarter with a head injury after colliding with teammate Naji Marshall, the Pelicans rallied back to force the extra five minutes.

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Williamson finished with 25 points, six rebounds, one assist, two blocks, and one steal in his 30 minutes of action. Ingram played only 11 minutes before his injury, totaling 10 points, one assist, and one steal.

According to The Athletic's Will Guillory, Pelicans head coach Willie Green said that his decision not to put Zion Williamson back into the game after his fall was injury related.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country for daily Duke basketball content.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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