Zion will miss Pelicans' final preseason game with sore knee

Rookie phenom Zion Williamson was ruled out for the New Orleans Pelicans' final preseason game due to right knee soreness, the team announced Thursday.

Williamson remained in New Orleans to undergo further testing and evaluation while his team hit the road for Friday's tilt with the New York Knicks.

The forward has previously dealt with knee injuries, most notably suffering a Grade 1 right knee sprain when his shoe broke apart during a game while playing for Duke. Williamson also missed most of this year's summer league with a bruised left knee.

However, the No. 1 pick showed little sign of wear and tear through four preseason games with the Pelicans. In just 27.3 minutes per game, Williamson averaged 23.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting a remarkable 71.4% from the floor.

The Pelicans' regular season begins Oct. 22 with a road game against the defending NBA champion Toronto Raptors.