Zion Williamson (illness) missed the Pelicans' opener against the Bulls

NEW ORLEANS – Pelicans power forward Zion Williamson was left out of the lineup for the opening game of the regular season against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.

Pelicans coach Willie Green said Williamson was ill and was not present for New Orleans' 123-111 win.

However, Green said the club is confident that Williamson, who averaged 22.9 points per game last season, can return to the team when the Pelicans begin a four-game West Coast trip Friday in Portland .

The 6-foot-2 Williamson, Duke's No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, played in a career-high 70 games last season. But his absence Wednesday night marked the 207th regular-season game missed in his injury-plagued professional career.

However, he averaged 24.7 points in the 184 games played.

Jose Alvarado (right knee contusion) and Dejounte Murray, who missed Tuesday's practice for personal reasons, were available to the Pelicans after being listed as questionable.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.