By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 18:54 EST, 14 December 2025 | Updated: 18:55 EST, 14 December 2025
CHICAGO (AP) - Injury-plagued forward Zion Williamson was listed as available to play and expected to return to the New Orleans Pelicans' lineup against the Chicago Bulls in a game-time decision Sunday night.
Williamson, the NBA´s top draft pick in 2019, most recently missed five games with a right hip adductor strain. Four separate injuries have limited the two-time All-Star to just 10 games this season for the Pelicans, who entered Sunday at 4-22 and last in the Western Conference.
Williamson is averaging 22.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 30.9 minutes. He had a season-high 29 points when the Pelicans defeated the Bulls 143-130 on Nov. 24 in New Orleans to end a nine-game losing streak.
Interim coach James Borrego praised Williamson for working hard to recover more quickly than expected from the adductor strain.
"He´s done a heck of a job to get to this point, if you want to call it ahead of schedule" Borrego said.
Williamson, who missed eight consecutive games earlier this season with a strained hamstring, did not play as a precaution in the second game of a back-to-back on Nov. 30 in Los Angeles against the Lakers, but he was not listed on the injury report after that game.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, center, watches during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
He went on the report on Dec. 2 before New Orleans hosted Minnesota.
The depleted Bulls played without guard Ayo Dosunmu (sprained thumb) on Sunday, but guard Kevin Huerter was set to return after missing four games with a left adductor strain. Seven Chicago players, including guard Coby White, were under minutes restrictions.
The Bulls and Pelicans both snapped seven-game losing streaks with road wins on Friday night.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba