Zion Williamson

The NBA may have designed its Disney bubble's 22-team format primarily as a means to get Zion Williamson onto more television screens, but it created a race for the eighth seed in the Western Conference that's more fun—and more competitive—than expected.

Williamson's New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 109-99 on Monday, cutting Memphis' lead for that final playoff spot to two games. Ninth place belongs to the Portland Trail Blazers. They moved percentage points ahead of the San Antonio Spurs when the Spurs lost 132-130 to the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.

The Blazers and Spurs hold a half-game lead over the Pelicans, a one-game lead over the Sacramento Kings and a game-and-a-half lead over the Phoenix Suns. That's all going to change 24 hours from now, but that's where things stand.

With Memphis having lost its first three seeding games, it's a near certainty the eighth and ninth seeds will be within four games of each other, triggering a play-in series in which the ninth seed must beat the eighth seed twice before the eighth seed wins once to earn a matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round.

The Pelicans' win over the Grizzlies was huge, not only because it kept them within striking distance of a shot at the playoffs, but also because it represented the gradual lifting of Williamson's controversial minutes limit. After the No. 1 overall pick played just 15 and 14 minutes in New Orleans' first two games, head coach Alvin Gentry and team president David Griffin found themselves playing defense, insisting it was simply to get Williamson's conditioning back up to speed after he missed training camp because of a family situation. But Williamson came alive against Memphis, playing 25 minutes and looking more like the phenom he was in limited games after making his NBA debut in January.

Zion threw down on the oop from Zo 😳

(via @PelicansNBA)https://t.co/KnqnqrPOHo

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 3, 2020

New Orleans' schedule gets easier, including two games against the Kings, who are not in last place but are in by far the most trouble of any of the teams fighting to reach the playoffs. Sacramento suffered a disappointing loss to the Orlando Magic on Sunday following a bubble-opening loss to the Spurs on Friday. With Marvin Bagley III out, the Kings' hopes are fading.

Besides the Spurs, who have looked impressive so far despite the last-second loss to the Sixers, the team that has impressed the most in this cluster has been the Suns. Phoenix took care of the happy-to-be-here Washington Wizards in its opening game and then pulled out a 117-115 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. Devin Booker has thrived in the bubble, scoring 30 points against Dallas and 27 against Washington.

Booker has long been accused of being an empty-stats star because of the Suns' lack of anything close to team success in his five seasons in the NBA. These eight seeding games are the most meaningful games he's played in his professional career. So far, he's risen to the moment.

Though the league's preference seems to be for New Orleans to snag the eighth seed, the popular pick heading into the bubble was Portland because of Damian Lillard's proven playoff record and the returns of starting power forward Zach Collins and center Jusuf Nurkic to the lineup. Thus far, the Blazers have been a mixed bag.

They pulled out an overtime win against the Grizzlies in their opening game but fell to the Boston Celtics on Sunday despite mounting a second-half comeback. The formula is there: some big-time shots from Lillard in the Boston game and CJ McCollum in the Memphis game, and Nurkic looks like he hasn't lost a step. Backup guard Gary Trent Jr. has had two breakout performances. But Collins is reacclimating less easily than Nurkic, still plagued by his old fouling problems. And Hassan Whiteside, after starting all season in Nurkic's absence, has struggled in a bench role.

Portland's schedule won't get any easier. It faces the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers and the 76ers before closing with two more winnable games against the Mavs and the Brooklyn Nets. The Blazers own tiebreakers over the Pelicans and Spurs, but they can't afford any more lackluster performances like in the first half against the Celtics.

By the middle of next week, the rest of the playoff field may be set. But the race for the final seed in the Western Conference has been the most compelling story of the bubble's early stages, and it's going to come down to the final day. Get ready.

   

Sean Highkin covers the NBA for Bleacher Report and co-hosts the Bulls vs. Blazers podcast. He is based in Portland, Oregon. His work has been honored by the Professional Basketball Writers Association. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram and in the B/R app.

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Former Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic head coach and current TNT color commentator Stan Van Gundy returns to The Full 48 with Howard Beck to discuss life in the NBA bubble as a member of the media, the reason for the high-scoring games, injury management vs. load management, Zion Williamson and the Pelicans, Philadelphia's chances at a championship and why Ben Simmons is the most underrated player in the league.

After playing a combined 29 minutes in the New Orleans Pelicans' first two seeding games at Walt Disney World, both of which were losses, rookie Zion Williamson "felt alive again" during Monday's 109-99 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.  

"I felt alive again," Williamson told ESPN's Malika Andrews after the game. "My competitive spirit was there, and I'm glad [head coach Alvin Gentry] and the whole team trusted me to finish the game out."

The Duke product finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists while notably playing 25 minutes in a victory that was critical for the Pelicans' playoff hopes.

Andrew Lopez of ESPN explained the situation, noting the Pelicans put a "burst restriction" on Williamson in those first two games since he left the league's campus-like environment in Florida on July 16, returned on July 24, quarantined for four days after he got back and missed the team's three scrimmage games.

Throw in the fact he didn't even make his season debut until Jan. 22 because of injuries and it was clear New Orleans was taking a cautious approach with its young star.

"I ain't gonna lie to you, it's just different in a bad way when I'm on the bench in the fourth quarter, and there's nothing I can do to help my team win," Williamson said. "So I said I felt alive—it was just great to be out there doing whatever I can to help my team win. And as for the energy part, me and my teammates can just feed off each other."

Williamson's explosiveness around the rim and on the glass gives the team another element and prevents the opposing defense from focusing too much attention on Brandon Ingram and Jrue Holiday.

That his skill set was on display Monday was key because it was such an important head-to-head win during a six-way battle for the No. 8 seed with a group that includes the Grizzlies.

Memphis holds the No. 8 seed but is just two games ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs, 2.5 games ahead of the Pelicans, three games ahead of the Sacramento Kings and 3.5 games ahead of the Phoenix Suns.

Whichever team earns the No. 9 seed will face the No. 8 seed in a play-in tournament for that last spot, assuming it is within four games. The No. 9 seed will need to win two in a row in such a scenario.

On Monday, Williamson proved he can be a critical part of a win over the Grizzlies with playoff implications on the line.

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant spoke highly of fellow South Carolina high school product Zion Williamson following Memphis' 109-99 defeat to the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night.

Morant and Williamson, who were briefly teammates on the AAU circuit, shared a moment on the court once the game ended. Morant directed a message to the Pelicans star on Twitter, writing, "let's continue to stay solid & be a great role model to the people who look up to us."

my guy 4L 🖤 being from SC you don’t see this often . let’s continue to stay solid & be a great role model to the people who look up to us . 💯 LOVE @Zionwilliamson https://t.co/fB85mKHF57

— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) August 4, 2020

This probably won't be the first time Morant and Williamson cross paths on the court with the playoffs at stake.

Once he made his long-awaited debut this season, Williamson lived up to the hype. He's averaging 22.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game while shooting 57.9 percent from the field.

Morant has far exceeded expectations. He's averaging 17.7 points and 7.0 assists and is the biggest reason the Grizzlies are eighth in the Western Conference.

These two are poised to be competitive rivals for years.

The Memphis Grizzlies' grip on the eighth seed continued to slip as they suffered their fourth straight defeat, losing 109-99 to the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday.

The Pelicans, meanwhile, earned a much-needed victory as they attempt to climb into the playoffs. They had dropped their first two games of the NBA's restart in Florida.  

Zion Williamson's playing time has been a big storyline surrounding the Pelicans, who have to balance their quest for the postseason with doing what they can to limit his injury risk. The 2019 No. 1 overall pick was on the floor for 25 minutes after getting 29 combined minutes in the team's last two outings.

That perhaps reflected how badly the Pelicans had to turn things around.

           

Notable Stats

Zion Williamson, SF, Pelicans: 9-of-21 FG, 23 points, seven rebounds, five assists

Brandon Ingram, SF, Pelicans: 8-of-16 FG, 24 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two steals

Josh Hart, SF, Pelicans: 5-of-6 FG, 15 points, seven rebounds

Ja Morant, PG, Grizzlies: 5-of-21 FG, 11 points, five rebounds, eight assists

Jaren Jackson Jr., PF, Grizzlies: 7-of-17 FG, 22 points, two rebounds, two assists, one steal, two blocks

            

Williamson Helps Pelicans Close out Win

In the Pelicans' first game back, they held a 93-89 lead on the Utah Jazz when Williamson exited with 7:19 left in the game. He remained on the bench as New Orleans saw its advantage evaporate en route to a 106-104 defeat.

Head coach Alvin Gentry said on ESPN as the fourth quarter opened that the plan was for Williamson to play eight-to-10 minutes in the final frame. He made it to the 6:21 mark before exiting, appearing visibly fatigued.

What percentage are you putting Zion at physically right now compared to what he was at Duke? 60%? The radical first step/explosion is just gone and he can't even go that fast right now.

— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) August 4, 2020

https://twitter.com/thebirdwrites/status/1290450494880722945

Williamson re-entered with 4:29 left and the Pelicans clinging to a seven-point lead, 97-90.

In general, Williamson still looks a step below where he was before the NBA suspended the season in March. He has the strength to score inside, but the explosion isn't quite there. Still, he scored six points over those final four-and-a-half minutes to help New Orleans hang on—a stark contrast from that Jazz game.

Our rookie's got 2️⃣0️⃣ #WontBowDown pic.twitter.com/CtF9ldW4cN

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) August 4, 2020

Brandon Ingram delivered the dagger when he connected on a pull-up jumper with 1:02 remaining to make it a nine-point game, 108-99. His outing mirrored his overall effort over what has been a career year.

1️⃣4️⃣ built different!#WontBowDown | #WholeNewGame pic.twitter.com/ygTs10OGgO

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) August 3, 2020

1️⃣4️⃣ BUILT DIFFERENT (again) pic.twitter.com/ulBhiMkvsj

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) August 4, 2020

Even in the likely outcome the Pelicans miss the playoffs, Monday was an example of why fans should be so excited about the future.

             

Grizzlies Doomed by Bad Night from Morant

The Grizzlies briefly turned the tide against the Pelicans in the third quarter thanks to their defense, but that progress was undone by their poor offense. They held New Orleans to 21 points but scored just 23 themselves.

This isn't a game Ja Morant will remember fondly. The rookie guard moved the ball around the floor well but didn't have his shooting touch.

Two-time All-Defensive guard Jrue Holiday was causing problems for Morant all night.

(This is entering tonight's game)

— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) August 4, 2020

Ja Morant's taken five 3s (well above his usual average) but between Jrue Holiday on him and the Pelicans daring him to shoot, it's a tough game when he can't rely on cooking at the rim

— Evan Barnes (@evan_b) August 3, 2020

https://twitter.com/peteredmiston/status/1290442173100560395

Jaren Jackson Jr. was similarly inconsistent, only really coming on strong against a tired Williamson in the fourth quarter. His five fouls also impacted how aggressive he could be inside on both ends of the court. 

This time it's Jaxson Hayes' energy forcing Jaren Jackson Jr. to commit foul No. 4. This could loom large down the stretch. https://t.co/1tlhUfNWnK

— Jeff Nowak (@Jeff_Nowak) August 4, 2020

The bench stepped up for Memphis to ensure the team was never too far behind the Pelicans. The quartet of Grayson Allen, Brandon Clarke, De'Anthony Melton and Anthony Tolliver combined for 33 points.

Allen, in particular, picked a good time to have his best performance of the season.

all energy. all the time.

1⃣0⃣ first quarter points for @brandonclarke23 pic.twitter.com/BPVvPy0WeJ

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) August 3, 2020

https://twitter.com/Kazeem/status/1290429525373997057

Grayson Allen channeling 2015 national championship game Grayson Allen off the bench today.

— Mark Giannotto (@mgiannotto) August 3, 2020

In order to stop their current slide, the Grizzlies will still need more from their two best players when they return to the court.

           

What's Next?

The Grizzlies meet the Jazz on Wednesday, while the Pelicans play the Sacramento Kings on Thursday.

The goal of Zion Williamson's minutes restriction might be to preserve his health, but it doesn't make things easy for the No. 1 overall pick on the court. 

"It's very tough, to be honest, because as soon as I start to break that sweat, I look over and that horn's for me and I have to come out of the game," Williamson told reporters Sunday. "Also, when I do catch the flow of the game, like I said, that horn goes off, and it's for me."

The Pelicans are attempting to play their way into the playoffs, but that hasn't been enough to alter their plan for how to handle Williamson's workload.

When Williamson exited with seven minutes, 19 seconds remaining, New Orleans led the Utah Jazz 93-89 in its first game back as the NBA restarted the season in Orlando, Florida. He didn't reenter the contest, and the Pelicans lost 106-104.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvl7vcnuEXc

Williamson then played just 14 minutes as the Pels fell behind early en route to a 126-103 drubbing at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers.

The team was handling Williamson carefully as a result of the torn meniscus he suffered in October prior to the start of the season. He also left the NBA's bubble at the Walt Disney World Resort to tend to a family matter, causing him to miss workouts and training sessions in preparation for meaningful games.

Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin highlighted that as a clear hindrance to his playing time.

"This is all about the ramp-up time," Griffin said, per ESPN's Andrew Lopez. "He didn't get the benefit of anything that his teammates got for those 13 days. This is going to take some time, and I think it's going to take time for him, he mentioned his flow and rhythm. It's going to take time for him to find that."

While it would be great to see Williamson playing 30-plus minutes a night, the incentive just isn't there for the Pelicans.

New Orleans was a long shot to make the postseason before the restart, and a first-round matchup with the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers was the likely outcome if everything broke right.

Getting Williamson some playoff experience—even in a sweep—would be a good thing, but it's not worth risking the recurrence of another knee injury. Kawhi Leonard is a perfect example of how some injuries require continued maintenance long after a player has fully healed.

The Pelicans have to look beyond this season in terms of Williamson's role and playing time. 

Even though Zion Williamson scored just seven points in 14 minutes during the New Orleans Pelicans' loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, he did enough to impress Kawhi Leonard.

"I thought he played great," Leonard said of Williamson, per Joe Vardon of The Athletic. "He's a very high-energy guy. He's playing to win. I'm not sure if he's on minute restriction or not. I didn't really get to see him."

Williamson left the team's bubble in Orlando and is still getting into shape during the Pelicans' seeding games. He played 15 minutes in Thursday's loss to the Utah Jazz and was held back once again Saturday against the Clippers.

Though Williamson did have five rebounds in limited playing time, his seven points were a career low in 21 appearances, and he finished minus-17 on the court.

We have definitely seen much more from the rookie, who was averaging 23.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game before the season was suspended in March due to the coronavirus. His numbers in Orlando haven't lived up to the hype, but his style of play is still obvious. 

"I like guys that approach the game aggressively and have high energy on that level," Leonard added, per Shane Young of Forbes.

Williamson also showcased his talent during the opening game against the Jazz:

Zion got up ⬆️ https://t.co/yfZqIezu52

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 31, 2020

The hope is he will get more opportunities down the line.

The NBA restart in Orlando kicked off on Thursday night, and with three days of action now in the rear view, the picture for the playoff proper is starting to take shape.

While there is still time for teams to teams so secure a postseason spot or jockey for position at the top—though the lack of a home-court advantage makes that less important—some teams are already two games into the eight-game seeding schedule.

Today's clinching scenarios in the NBA:

Dallas seals a playoff berth with a win or a Memphis loss

Milwaukee secures the East's No. 1 seed with a win

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) August 2, 2020

Here's a look at the latest standings and some of the most intriguing scenarios as the round of 16 draws closer.

   

2020 NBA Standings

Eastern Conference

1. Milwaukee Bucks 54-12

2. Toronto Raptors 47-16

3. Boston Celtics 43-22

4. Miami Heat 42-24

5. Indiana Pacers 40-26

6. Philadelphia 76ers 39-27

7. Orlando Magic 31-35

8. Brooklyn Nets 30-35

9. Washington Wizards 24-41

10. Charlotte Hornets 23-42

11. Chicago Bulls 22-43

12. New York Knicks 21-45

13 Detroit Pistons 20-46

14. Atlanta Hawks 20-47

15. Cleveland Cavaliers 19-46

Western Conference

1. Los Angeles Lakers 50-15

2. Los Angeles Clippers 45-21

3. Denver Nuggets 43-23

4. Utah Jazz 42-24

5. Oklahoma City Thunder 41-24

6. Houston Rockets 41-24

7. Dallas Mavericks 40-28

8. Memphis Grizzlies 32-34

9. Portland Trail Blazers 30-37

10. San Antonio Spurs 28-36

11. Sacramento Kings 28-37

12. New Orleans Pelicans 28-38

13. Phoenix Suns 27-39

14. Minnesota Timberwolves 19-45

15. Golden State Warriors 15-50

   

Lakers a Likely No. 1 Seed

The Los Angeles Lakers have a sizeable lead in over the L.A. Clippers in the Western Conference and took Thursday night's head-to-head contest. With six games left to play, they can largely coast to the postseason and still own the No. 1 seed.

However, this doesn't mean that these next few games aren't important. While there's little question about the core of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers are still analyzing their depth after losing Avery Bradly and Rajon Rondo for the remainder of the season.

On Saturday, the Lakers fell flat against the Toronto Raptors during a lopsided 107-92 loss. However, the team's depth largely held up—reserves were responsible for 50 of L.A.'s 92 points. Kyle Kuzma led the bench scoring with 16 points, while Alex Caruso and Dion Waiters chipped in 11 and 12 points, respectively.

Expect coach Frank Vogel to use the remaining six games to further fine tune the depth behind James and Davis and to figure out just what sort of squad the new-look Lakers can be. Barring a total collapse, Los Angeles should also claim conference bragging rights along the way.

    

Don't Discount the Raptors

While the Lakers did seem to use Saturday's contest as a tune-up exercise, it should take nothing away from Toronto. Though Kawhi Leonard is long gone, the defending champion Raptors are still a force to behold.

Defensively, the Raptors had their way with the Lakers  on Saturday, and they're going to be a problem in the postseason. They held Davis to just 14 points and limited Los Angeles to a paltry 35.4 percent shooting from the field. 

If Toronto can consistently get offensive contributions like the one it got Kyle Lowry on Saturday, it will be a legitimate title contender.

Lowry racked up 33 points, just one point shy of what James and Davis produced combined.

"He was vintage Kyle tonight," coach Nick Nurse said, per the San Francisco Chronicle. "He was scoring and flying around and taking charges and competing and getting us some critical buckets. He was great.

With a 3.5-game lead for the No. 2 seed in the East, the Raptors could very well be on a collision course with the Milwaukee Bucks for a shot at the Finals

    

Pelicans Are Long Shots for the Playoffs

Though the NBA would love nothing more than to get rookie phenom Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans into the playoffs, this team is all but done for the year.

New Orleans lost a close game to the Utah Jazz on Thursday but was absolutely dominated by the Clippers on Saturday. The Clippers won handily 126-103.

The Pelicans, led by youngsters Williamson, Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram, have a bright future ahead. However, their time is not now. Despite having arguably the easiest schedule in the restart, New Orleans now finds itself four games out of eighth place with six games left to play.

There is still hope, of course.

"We knew these two games were our toughest two games," one team source said, per The Athletic's Joe Vardon. “Bad showing. Move on."

Unfortunately, the Pelicans aren't in a position where they can afford to simply write off a bad performance and still hope to be playoff-bound. They may now have to win out to have a shot at the playoffs.

The New Orleans Pelicans have reached the brink of playoff elimination just two games into the NBA's restart. 

Saturday saw the Pelicans fall to the Los Angeles Clippers 126-103, giving the team its second straight defeat following Thursday's loss to the Utah Jazz. The Clippers, meanwhile, rebounded quickly from their Thursday loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. 

.@terance_mann hits our 25th (!!!) three to set a franchise record for three-pointers in a game. pic.twitter.com/0JrcXN2iQj

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) August 2, 2020

Make that 16 (!!) threes in the first, tying a franchise record for three-pointers in a half. pic.twitter.com/nqplKqoVFo

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) August 1, 2020

New Orleans rookie Zion Williamson played 14 minutes, totaling seven points and five rebounds, after seeing the court for just 15 minutes on Thursday. 

While the Clippers have already clinched a playoff spot, the Pelicans dropped to four games back of the Memphis Grizzlies for the eighth seed in the Western Conference with six games to play. 

Notable Performers 

Kawhi Leonard, SF, Los Angeles Clippers: 24 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists

Paul George, SG, Los Angeles Clippers: 28 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 assist (8-of-11 from three)

Brandon Ingram, SF, New Orleans Pelicans: 14 points, 2 rebounds

Derrick Favors, C, New Orleans Pelicans: 12 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists             

.@Yg_Trece gets us started with three-straight threes. 👌🏾

📺 @FoxSportsWest pic.twitter.com/rYHQOP6FQM

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) August 1, 2020

Clippers Set Franchise Record From Three

Never before in the history of the Los Angeles Clippers have its players been as lights-out from long-range as they were on Saturday night. 

Granted, the team's history hasn't always been the most positive, which is what made seeing them connect on 25 three-pointers all the more remarkable. It's proven to their fans that even after a hiatus that lasted more than 140 days, this is a team worth believing in. 

Knocked down nine (!) threes in the first to tie a season high for three-pointers in a quarter. pic.twitter.com/sEdkOY4cuL

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) August 1, 2020

The Clippers went 25-of-47 from beyond the arc, only two makes from tying the NBA's single-game record. In the process, they connected on 16 threes in the first half, missing out on the league record by one. 

It was as ruthless as it sounds. The Pelicans had previously only allowed more than 16 threes in a game five times all season before Saturday. Los Angeles became the sixth team before halftime, giving New Orleans its largest deficit at the break (32 points) in franchise history. The last time it trailed by 31 points at halftime was against the Miami Heat in 2005. 

Congrats to @LAClippers coach Doc Rivers for moving up to 11th on the all-time COACHING WINS list! #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/6953i8m9FE

— NBA (@NBA) August 2, 2020

Every Clippers starter except center Ivica Zubac drained a three-pointer. Paul George led the way with eight, while Reggie Jackson and JaMychal Green each hit three off the bench. 

The most troubling part for the Pelicans is that it wasn't confined to one part of the floor, either. Los Angeles made more than 10 threes from both the left and right side to go with five from the top of the arc. 

Pelicans' Playoff Push Fading

Saturday was supposed to be an evening where Zion Williamson's time on the court began to increase. 

Instead, he played a career-low 14 minutes and posted a career-low seven points. This wasn't Williamson playing an ineffective brand of basketball (though he shot just 3-of-7 from the floor); this was the Pelicans getting blown out so early it became irrelevant whether Williamson was in the game at all. 

It certainly wasn't worth risking an injury to their star player. 

it's been that kinda first half pic.twitter.com/df9BxHp2t9

— The Ringer (@ringer) August 1, 2020

New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters the game didn't get out of hand due to effort, but because of decision-making. The Pelicans turned the ball over 18 times, which L.A. converted into 34 points.  

"Being on the floor and getting our ass whooped the whole time, we just use that as juice to come in," forward Brandon Ingram said afterwards. "We can't lose too many more games, we probably can't lose any more games. So we just have to have a sense of urgency on Monday and fight for everything we're trying to get."

Another triple for Zo! #WBD pic.twitter.com/HToUZZaqcI

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) August 1, 2020

Another loss may very well put the playoffs out of reach for the Pelicans, but a win won't necessarily keep them in the race. 

After Saturday's result, New Orleans now trails the Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs and Sacramento Kings in the battle for the eighth seed. 

Year 1 of Williamson is likely to end earlier than NBA fans would've liked. 

What's Next

On Monday, the Pelicans will face their most important game of the restart when they tip off against the Memphis Grizzlies at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. The result may determine whether New Orleans has a viable path toward the postseason. 

Los Angeles, meanwhile, will continue tuning up for its playoff run Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns at 4 p.m. ET on NBA TV.     

Add Doc Rivers to the Zion Williamson fan club.

The Los Angeles Clippers head coach became the latest NBA personality to rave about the New Orleans Pelicans rookie, telling ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk ahead of Williamson's first game against L.A. on Saturday: Forget the basketball up front, I just love his demeanor, his personality... very skilled. Terrific passer."

While the Pelicans and Clippers are meeting for the fourth time this season, Williamson was held out of the first three contests while rehabbing from a preseason knee injury. 

Just how much Rivers will get to see Williamson on the floor Saturday is one of the matchup's biggest questions. 

Following advice from the Pelicans' medical team, coach Alvin Gentry limited the forward to 15 minutes Thursday against the Utah Jazz—sitting the star for crucial minutes down the stretch in a 106-104 loss.

Williamson finished with 13 points and one assist while shooting 6-of-8 from the field.

Considering the perilous state of the Pelicans' playoff position, the rookie's minutes restriction may determine whether New Orleans earns a postseason berth. The club is 3.5 games back of the eighth playoff seed, with just seven games to play. 

Pelicans executive David Griffin told reporters inside the league's bubble that Williamson's status remains dependent on his ability to stay in a rhythm on and off the floor:

"The medical team wants to make sure he's warm and loose before he gets on the court. Everything that they are doing is predicated on that. The players have a very clear routine. His routine is to get loose at a certain time. We don't want him to get loose and then sit on the side and wait, because that's not conducive to him playing his best."

That doesn't mean Williamson has to agree with his club's plan for him. 

Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes said on The Dan Patrick Show on Friday that Williamson was "pissed" about the restriction. 

Saturday provides another opportunity for the Duke product to prove he's ready to return to regular minutes.

The Portland Trail Blazers gained the first advantage in the hunt for the Western Conference's No. 8 seed Friday. 

Portland moved within 2.5 games of the Memphis Grizzlies by way of a head-to-head victory, but it still has a long way to go to either clinch that position outright or land in the play-in series. 

San Antonio and Phoenix picked up victories Friday, while Sacramento dropped back level with New Orleans. 

Over in the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic pulled ahead in the fight for the No. 7 seed by beating the Brooklyn Nets, who they face once more in their final seven seeding games. 

The complexion of the East standings could change more Saturday, as Miami, Philadelphia and Indiana take to the floor for the first time. 

            

Updated NBA Standings

Eastern Conference

1. Milwaukee (54-12)

2. Toronto (46-18)

3. Boston (43-22)

4. Miami (41-24)

5. Indiana (39-26)

6. Philadelphia (39-26)

7. Orlando (31-35)

8. Brooklyn (30-35)

9. Washington (24-41)

    

All Milwaukee needs to lock up the No. 1 seed is one more victory or one loss from Toronto.

Friday's seven-point win over Boston was powered by 36 points and 15 rebounds from Giannis Antetokounmpo.

With the top seed close to secured, the Bucks can worry about sharpening their form while not dealing with the stress of a seeding race. 

The Celtics will enter Saturday with a two-game advantage on Miami, and they are four games in front of the Pacers and Sixers. 

Since Miami plays Denver and Indiana faces Philadelphia, Boston may not give up any ground after the first full set of games.

Orlando's win over Brooklyn meant the most in the playoff picture because it moved the Magic out of a potential first-round meeting with the Bucks for now. 

The Magic could remain in that position if they benefit from their second head-to-head meeting with Brooklyn August 11 and win a few more contests. 

The Nets are still in decent shape to avoid a play-in series with Washington, who fell to Phoenix Friday. 

Brooklyn holds a six-game buffer between itself and Washington, and as long as Washington does not get within four games, it will qualify as the No. 8 seed. 

               

Western Conference

1. Los Angeles Lakers (50-14)

2. Los Angeles Clippers (44-21)

3. Denver (43-22)

4. Utah (42-23)

5. Houston (41-24)

6. Oklahoma City (40-24)

7. Dallas (40-28)

8. Memphis (32-34)

9. Portland (30-37)

10. San Antonio (28-36)

11. New Orleans (28-37)

12. Sacramento (28-37)

13. Phoenix (27-39)

    

Portland's overtime triumph over Memphis may have altered the balance of power in the race for the No. 8 seed. 

The Trail Blazers were reinvigorated by the return of Jusuf Nurkic, who posted 18 points, nine rebounds, six blocks, five assists and two steals, and they received a pair of massive three-point shots from Carmelo Anthony at the end of regulation. 

With Nurkic and Zach Collins in front of Hassan Whiteside on the depth chart, the Blazers could match up with any of their opponents in the paint. 

Portland will need the big men to support Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum moving forward since it faces a tricky schedule in Orlando.

The Blazers take on Boston Sunday and then face Houston, Denver the Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia before closing with Dallas and Brooklyn.

If they can get to the final two games within striking distance of the No. 8 seed, the Blazers should finish eighth or ninth. 

Memphis could be pulled back to the pack of five chasing teams if it does not rebound from Friday's loss. 

Ja Morant and Co. take on San Antonio and New Orleans in back-to-back days, and if they lose both, their advantage could be as small as a half-game. 

San Antonio's best chance to make up ground on Memphis and Portland in the next week comes from Sunday's meeting with the Grizzlies. After that, the Spurs have to play Denver, Houston, Philadelphia and then Utah on two occasions.

New Orleans' schedule goes in the opposite direction after a Saturday clash with the Clippers. The Pelicans play their final six games against teams seeded seventh or worse in their respective conferences. 

If Memphis, Portland and San Antonio want to hold off the Pelicans, they need to win whichever head-to-head meetings remain and pick up another victory or two at least.

             

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

Statistics obtained from NBA.com