Zion Williamson took a more confident approach in the final minutes of a tight game, which paid off well for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Williamson finished with 28 points and made five out of six free throws in the last three minutes, helping the Pelicans secure a 107-100 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night.
“We wanted to make sure we played the right way, even in tough situations,” said Williamson, who didn’t take any shots in the final minutes of their previous game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, resulting in a 119-112 loss. “We focused on executing our plays tonight, and it led to a win,” he added.
The Pelicans led for most of the game, even by 18 points at one stage in the first half. However, when Damian Lillard hit a crucial 3-pointer with just over five minutes left, Milwaukee narrowed the gap to five points. This scenario was similar to their recent loss to the Thunder, where the Pelicans squandered a five-point lead in the final three minutes.
This time, Williamson remained aggressive, attacking the basket consistently and making key free throws to seal the victory.
CJ McCollum contributed 25 points, while Jonas Valanciunas added 17 points and 10 rebounds, marking his 32nd double-double of the season. Trey Murphy III chipped in with 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Pelicans, who managed to win despite struggling with their 3-point shooting, making only 8 out of 32 attempts, and shooting 39.6% from the field.
“Effort was crucial,” said Murphy, referring to his improved rebounding performance. “Seeing my dad in the crowd with a stern look motivated me to grab more rebounds and make him proud.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 35 points and 14 rebounds. Williamson, who had to defend him at times, praised Antetokounmpo’s relentless play inside the paint.
“He’s incredibly aggressive,” Williamson said, acknowledging Antetokounmpo’s energy and determination, especially evident when he scored 20 consecutive points for the Bucks in the third quarter.
Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard and Malik Beasley each scored 20 points, with Beasley sinking six 3-pointers.
Despite the loss, Milwaukee struggled to match New Orleans’ physicality and aggressiveness. Lillard noted that the Pelicans played a better game, attributing it to their strong presence on both ends of the court and their ability to draw fouls and grab offensive rebounds.
The Pelicans dominated in the paint, outscoring Milwaukee 52-44, and capitalized on free throws, making 27 out of 34 attempts. On the other hand, Milwaukee attempted only 19 free throws, converting 10.
“They were more physical and aggressive,” Lillard admitted. “The game favored their style of play, and they capitalized on it. They deserved the win.”
