COVID-19 has been spreading rapidly throughout the NBA, but the New Orleans Pelicans had been one of the few teams to avoid it. That is, until now, as youngster Nickeil Alexander-Walker has just become the Pelicans' first player to enter the NBA's health and safety protocols, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

This comes after NAW just poured in 27 points in a big win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. The 23-year-old is averaging 13.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists this season.

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New Orleans now has to hope this doesn't spread around the team. The Pelicans have bounced back from an atrocious start to the 2021-22 season to get back in the mix for the play-in tournament. They're still just 11-21 on the season, but don't forget they started 1-12. They've won four of their last five games to get to just two games back of the 10th-seeded Blazers.

This, of course, has all happened without Zion Williamson on the court. The Pelicans star hasn't made his season debut yet because of setbacks in his recovery from foot surgery, and it's unclear just when he'll return. Brandon Ingram and Co. are starting to pick up the slack, but Zion's status has been a dark cloud hanging over this franchise.

New Orleans' next game is on Thursday against the Orlando Magic, so that gives them another prime opportunity for a win, even with Alexander-Walker out of the lineup.