The New Orleans Pelicans welcomed back their franchise star Zion Williamson Tuesday night, but even his emphatic return wasn’t enough to secure a victory. The Minnesota Timberwolves held off the Pelicans for a 104-97 win, despite Williamson’s 22 points in his first game action in over two months.
Zion Soars in Comeback Performance
Any concerns about lingering effects from Williamson’s left hamstring strain were quickly erased when the 22-year-old phenom threw down a mesmerizing dunk early in the first quarter. Williamson caught an alley-oop lob from teammate CJ McCollum and rotated a full 360 degrees in the air before slamming it home with authority.
“The dunk was crazy just knowing how long he’s been out and to see that he could still do that,” said Pelicans point guard Dejounte Murray. “I’m glad he played with the confidence and the joy.”
Williamson finished with 22 points on 8-of-17 shooting in just under 28 minutes of action. He tacked on six rebounds, four assists, three steals and a highlight-reel block on Wolves center Rudy Gobert.
Dynamic Duo Debuts
The matchup with Minnesota also marked the first time that Williamson and newly acquired All-Star Dejounte Murray shared the court together. The two showed flashes of what could be a lethal combination, as their aggressive defense led to a pair of Williamson breakaway dunks in the third quarter.
“Our chemistry is there,” Williamson said of playing alongside Murray. Coach Willie Green agreed, saying “That was a fun segment. That’s a small sample size of what this team is capable of.”
Tough Road Ahead
Despite the promising signs, New Orleans still faces an uphill climb to salvage their season. The loss dropped the Pelicans to a dismal 7-30 record on the year, with a 2-5 mark in the few games Williamson has been available.
Getting their young star back in the fold is a much-needed boost, but it will take time for Williamson to shake off the rust and reach peak form again. Coach Green said Zion was on a minutes restriction against the Wolves and declined to confirm his status for the second half of a back-to-back on Wednesday versus Portland.
Expectations remain high for the former No. 1 overall pick, who is the centerpiece the Pelicans are building their future around. If Williamson can stay healthy and continue to develop chemistry with Murray, better days should be ahead in New Orleans, even if this season is already a lost cause.
Wolves Fend Off Furious Rally
Minnesota looked to be on their way to an easy victory, leading by as many as 14 in the fourth quarter. But the Pelicans made things interesting late, trimming the deficit to just four on multiple occasions in the final minutes.
The Wolves were able to make just enough plays down the stretch to stave off the Pelicans’ rally and secure the road win. Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 26 points, while D’Angelo Russell poured in 25.
Promising Building Blocks
There were certainly more positives than negatives to take away from Zion’s season debut. Seeing their franchise cornerstone back on the court and playing with his signature explosiveness had to be a welcome sight for the Pelicans.
- Zion’s final stat line: 22 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl, 1 blk in 27 mins
- Williamson is averaging 22.7 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 5.3 apg in 6 games played this year
The budding chemistry between Williamson and Murray also provides plenty of optimism for the future in New Orleans. If the two stars can continue to gel and elevate each other’s games, the Pelicans have the makings of an exciting core to build around.
The focus for the rest of this season will be on establishing that foundation and keeping Williamson healthy. With a miserable 7-30 record, the Pelicans have already shifted their sights toward planning for next year and beyond.
“It’s incredible, his ability to impact the basketball game when he’s on the floor,” Coach Green said of Williamson’s return. “He had a little bit of rust, but that’s as good as I’ve seen him after being out for as long as he’s been.”
The Bottom Line
Zion Williamson’s long-awaited return from injury gave the Pelicans organization and fanbase a much-needed jolt of excitement. While it wasn’t enough to lift New Orleans to a win, the 22-year-old’s performance was a promising step forward.
If Williamson can remain healthy and continue to blossom alongside Dejounte Murray, brighter days should be on the horizon for the Pelicans. This lost season is already a sunk cost, but the future remains bright with a young star like Zion to build around.
The focus for the rest of this season will be on establishing that foundation and keeping Williamson healthy. With a miserable 7-30 record, the Pelicans have already shifted their sights toward planning for next year and beyond.
“It’s incredible, his ability to impact the basketball game when he’s on the floor,” Coach Green said of Williamson’s return. “He had a little bit of rust, but that’s as good as I’ve seen him after being out for as long as he’s been.”
The Bottom Line
Zion Williamson’s long-awaited return from injury gave the Pelicans organization and fanbase a much-needed jolt of excitement. While it wasn’t enough to lift New Orleans to a win, the 22-year-old’s performance was a promising step forward.
If Williamson can remain healthy and continue to blossom alongside Dejounte Murray, brighter days should be on the horizon for the Pelicans. This lost season is already a sunk cost, but the future remains bright with a young star like Zion to build around.
