Zion Williamson led the New Orleans Pelicans to a 114-101 win over the short-handed Detroit Pistons on Sunday with his impressive performance, scoring 36 points. He was nearly flawless on the court, making 13 out of 14 shots and sinking 10 out of 14 free throws.
Williamson also contributed with seven rebounds and six assists before receiving applause from the crowd as he left the game in the final minutes.
Pelicans coach Willie Green praised Williamson’s momentum in the first quarter, deciding to keep him in the game until the second due to his outstanding performance.
Williamson’s achievement of scoring 35 points without a single 3-pointer and with fewer than 15 field goal attempts puts him in rare company, joining players like Dwyane Wade and Dwight Howard in this feat.
Williamson expressed his trust in his teammates and coaches, focusing on securing the win after a less productive game against Miami.
CJ McCollum also contributed with 23 points for the Pelicans, who have been performing well lately, winning five of their last six games.
On the other hand, the Pistons faced significant challenges with four of their starters out due to injuries and illness. Despite the efforts of players like Chimezu Metu, Malachi Flynn, and Jaden Ivey, who scored 17, 17, and 16 points respectively, the Pistons couldn’t overcome their shorthanded lineup.
Coach Monty Williams acknowledged the difficulty of facing Zion Williamson, who proved to be a formidable force for the Pelicans.
Detroit struggled on offense throughout the game, particularly in the first quarter, shooting poorly from the field and behind the arc. Turnovers also plagued their performance, hindering their ability to generate scoring opportunities.
Although Buddy Boeheim’s career-high 13 points provided some spark for the Pistons in the second quarter, they still trailed significantly at halftime.
