New Orleans Pelicans forward Yves Missi suffered a concerning left knee injury during Friday night’s matchup against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City. With 6:30 remaining in the second quarter, Zion Williamson’s driving attempt was blocked by Jaxson Hayes, leading to a collision where Williamson fell into Missi’s leg. The Cameroon native immediately clutched his knee, writhing in pain on the baseline before being assisted to the locker room. Pelicans head coach Jamahl Mosley ran onto the court to protest a subsequent non-call on a Keyonte George three-pointer, drawing a technical foul, but Missi was unable to bear weight on his left leg and was ruled out for the remainder of the contest.
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The injury is a significant setback for New Orleans, as Missi had just delivered a standout performance in the team’s season opener. In last night’s 123-120 loss to the Indiana Pacers, the 22-year-old recorded a double-double with 13 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks. His ability to protect the rim and control the paint has been a focal point of the Pelicans’ defensive strategy, making his absence a critical gap in the frontcourt rotation.
Medical staff will re-evaluate Missi on Saturday to determine the extent of the damage to his left knee. While no official diagnosis has been released, the inability to put weight on the leg suggests a potentially serious soft-tissue injury. The Pelicans will look to their remaining big men to absorb the minutes, but the timing of this injury—just days into the NBA season—could impact their long-term roster planning and defensive stability.
Source: Yahoo Sports
