Is Zion Williamson playing tonight against Denver Nuggets? Latest on former No. 1 pick's status (January 12, 2024) 

Zion Williamson is questionable to face the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. The former No. 1 pick is dealing with a quad injury. Williamson carried the same status last game vs. the Golden State Warriors but suited up and dropped 19 points, seven assists and five rebounds in 30 minutes, shooting eight-of-12.

Williamson's had an up-and-down year, averaging 21.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists, shooting 58.4%. However, when Williamson's in the groove, the Pelicans have been hard to get past. The game against the Warriors was a solid example of that.

Williamson carved open the Warriors' defense with his all-around play, using his size advantage against the Draymond Green-less Dubs. He was decisive and quick to make the right plays, which saw the Pelicans record a massive 141-105 road win.

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What happened to Zion Williamson?

Williamson injured his quad against the LA Clippers amid a 111-95 loss on Jan. 5. He exited the game in the third quarter and didn't return. Williamson played 19 minutes, tallying 12 points and six rebounds. It's still unclear how he injured himself. The Pelicans had waived the white flag already, down nearly 30 points. Williamson's exit could have been a precaution.

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Zion Williamson stats vs. Denver Nuggets

Zion Williamson has played seven games against the Denver Nuggets. He holds a 3-4 record against the 2023 NBA champions. Williamson's averaged 25.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg and 3.6 apg on 60.5% shooting against Nikola Jokic and Co.

He last played against the Nuggets on Nov. 17, 2023. Williamson tallied 26 points, four rebounds and six assists on 58.8% shooting in a 115-110 win. Williamson and the Pelicans also played against the Nuggets on Nov. 6, 2023. He had 20 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in that game, which ended 134-116 in the Nuggets' favor.

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Will Zion Williamson play tonight against Denver Nuggets?

Williamson is carrying a questionable status for Friday night's game against the Nuggets. It means he's 50-50 to suit up. Williamson carried the same status for the last game, so he's expected to suit. However, he will be a game-time decision.

It's a big game for the Pelicans as they can test themselves against a healthy Denver Nuggets team, so they will likely play Williamson if he can hold off the injury significantly. The Pelicans will need his size and strength against the Nuggets frontcourt of Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic.

Williamson can go toe-to-toe with them on the glass and be an impactful presence defensively. His physicality to could disrupt Jokic's play, which is one of the keys to winning against Denver.