The New Orleans Pelicans held off the Minnesota Timberwolves 119-118 in a highly entertaining NBA contest on Wednesday night at Smoothie King Center.
The Pelicans won this game because they have Zion Williamson.
Williamson scored a career-high 43 points in 34 minutes; nobody else on New Orleans had even half that many points. He made 14-of-21 shots from the field (1-of-1 on threes) and 14-of-19 shots from the charity stripe.
In the fourth quarter, Williamson went on a 13-0 run by himself, and he scored the Pelicans’ final 14 points.
13-0 RUN BY ZION HIMSELF!!!! https://t.co/qc0fz3Hr3u.DIFFERENT!!!!! @PelicansNBA | #Pelicans |📺:BSNO pic.twitter.com/gaMsx7CLpc
— Bally Sports New Orleans (@BallySportsNO) December 29, 2022
Williamson missed the entire 2021-22 NBA season due to a foot injury, but he looks excellent in the 2022-23 campaign. He’s averaging 25.8 points and shooting 60.7% from the field, to go with averaging 7.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.
Basically, Williamson is showing why he was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft. And he’s just 22 years old, with the ability to get a lot better.
The basketball world is buzzing over Williamson’s incredible performance on Wednesday night.
“Zion stepped up to the challenge. His 33 2nd half points are tied for the most in a half in Pelicans history,” tweeted the NBA on ESPN account.
Zion stepped up to the challenge 💪
His 33 2nd half points are tied for the most in a half in Pelicans history. pic.twitter.com/I1ZjzznsIh
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 29, 2022
“I think he’s the MVP of our league,” said Pelicans guard Trey Murphy (via the New Orleans Pelicans’ Twitter account).
"I think he's the MVP of our league,"
– @TreyMurphy on Zion #Pelicans pic.twitter.com/oblFELDpGb
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 29, 2022
MOVE OVER LUKA, HERE COMES ZION. 33 2ND-HALF POINTS. DOMINATED DOWN THE STRETCH. BIG CLUTCH 3. GAME-WINNING FREE THROW. MONSTER GAME,” tweeted Fox Sports’ Skip Bayless.
MOVE OVER LUKA, HERE COMES ZION. 33 2ND-HALF POINTS. DOMINATED DOWN THE STRETCH. BIG CLUTCH 3. GAME-WINNING FREE THROW. MONSTER GAME.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) December 29, 2022
“What. A. Win. for the Pelicans. Zion puts up 43 points, a career-high in the 119-118 win. By far one of the best Pels games I’ve seen,” tweeted Brooke Kirchhofer of WWLTV.
What. A. Win. for the #Pelicans
Zion puts up 43 points, a career-high in the 119-118 win. By far one of the best Pels games I’ve seen.
“You want to be great? This is the moment to do it” – @CJMcCollum to @Zionwilliamson in the 4Q
— Brooke Kirchhofer (@brookechesney) December 29, 2022
The Pelicans improve to 22-12 with the victory and are just a half game back of the Denver Nuggets for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
