Zion Williamson had a career-high 43 points in the New Orleans Pelicans' win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in his first game back after an illness.
He has taken over as the leader of the New Orleans Pelicans with Brandon Ingram out and is playing with more confidence than he ever has. This is what superstars do, as he took over the game and wouldn’t allow his team to lose. The Pelicans are currently tied for first in the Western Conference, so Zion is doing this in high-pressure games that matter. He’s taken a more vocal leadership role, is demanding the ball with the game on the line, and has improved his defense. Not only did Zion have his way on the inside, but he shot 19 free throws, which kept the T’Wolves front court in foul trouble all night, with Gobert eventually fouling out. The Pelicans have used their depth to not only stay alive but thrive during Ingram’s absence.
The Timberwolves became the latest team to fall victim to the budding superstar that simply would not let the Pelicans lose.
Williamson has maximized those opportunities, scoring 37 points so far in December in games that were within five points in the final five minutes, second only to [DeMar DeRozan](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/demar-derozan-1sVXxgSdLOq7XZwu/) (48) in “clutch” points this month. This while going against Timberwolves center [Rudy Gobert](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/rudy-gobert-HoB7w4Z5ROZnzHO4/), a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and one of the best rim protectors of his generation. Then, there was the play when he swooped in to steal a pass with 41 seconds left before throwing down a huge dunk to give New Orleans the lead. Zion has also been more confident in the other parts of his game of late. His 14-point run in the fourth quarter started with two free throws and a 3-pointer, long considered two of his weaker offensive skills. Kobe Bryant and [Stephen Curry](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/stephen-curry-toS7DgUD3IIt7uds/) were unstoppable shotmakers. [Brandon Ingram](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/brandon-ingram-2qhGZCDXJ36YwTGU/), still out with a toe injury, has provided Williamson more chances to take control of the offense in high-pressure moments. In his third season, Williamson’s grasp of when to take over games and what his team needs from him in big moments has improved considerably. On top of that, it was a prominent example of his growth as a closer in high-pressure moments. Michael Jordan and [LeBron James](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/lebron-james-dxRvkEThnxpMbhcr/) had once-in-a-generation athletic gifts. [Luka Doncic](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/luka-doncic-gMyReUOesjAikT7S/) and Larry Bird are basketball savants who could pick apart any defense. Everyone in the arena knows.
Williamson played bully ball, using his explosiveness, size and power to get to the rim at will. He scored 33 of his 43 points in the second half, including the ...
Giannis leads the NBA with 12.7 free-throw attempts per game and has attempted 20+ free throws twice this season, one of them in Milwaukee's 115-102 win over the Timberwolves on Nov. Jerami Grant attempted 28 free throws in an overtime game between the Blazers and Knicks on Nov. He scored 33 of his 43 points in the second half, including the Pelicans' last 14 points to hold off the competitive Timberwolves.
Zion Williamson has the eighth-best odds of taking home the 2022-23 Most Valuable Player Award at 40-to-1, per BetOnline. After watching the growing star ...
To understand the work you put in is going to show. More importantly, this win combined with a Nuggets loss to the Kings has New Orleans and Denver tied atop the Western Conference standings. “I like to figure out their mindsets and all their mindsets were the same. The important thing is, finding a way to win when games turn into a slog. I think that’s the sign of a good team, being able to figure out ways to win ugly games.” Tried to take the lead, knowing that Z’s going to be coming back in and batting cleanup ... He’s out here doing what he’s supposed to with his body, doing what he’s supposed to do in games. They seem to have the weapons and showed a nice ability to scrap. It was a big 3 in the game.” I was in rhythm, but shout-out to Trey for that. “Like I said on the radio interview, I think he’s the MVP of our league when you look at we’re one of the best teams in the West and he’s leading us. Williamson set the tone right out of halftime, tallying 19 points in the third quarter.
Basketball is a subtle game. In his postgame presser, C.J. McCollum revealed the covert late-game tactic behind the Pelicans' 119-118 defeat of the Wolves ...
Looking at the steal and dunk that put the game away, our pal David Roth noted, with approval, that it had the energy of a strip-sack more than a basketball play. After the game, Wolves guard D’Angelo Russell aired a similar sentiment, but with a much saltier agenda. Sometimes he simply yeets the defender out of frame with a well-placed shoulder. Sometimes he just sails into a pack of dudes and keeps floating until every contest has returned to earth, and then the ball finds its way over or around or high off the glass. His NBA tenure is as riddled with injury as it is with delirious highlights, and this fourth-quarter push might be his finest work yet, a proof of concept for Zion as offensive superstar. He finished with a career-high 43 points (on 21 shots!), three rebounds, five assists, a block, and a steal.
The New Orleans Pelicans won against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and their victory was sweetened by a career-high performance from Zion Williamson.
Is he a hybrid of Shaq and Chuck? Though he didn’t win a championship ring, his individual key metrics have been a masterclass in their own right. [As per Andrew Lopez](https://twitter.com/_Andrew_Lopez/status/1607816506523455488?s=20&t=jbCa7tzD0piOlORaZmKzKw), Williamson said, “I gotta play. What could have been the fuel for Zion was his mindset. NBA Twitter took this opportunity to heap praise on the 2021 All-Star. Notably, Zion Williamson finished the game with a career-high of 43 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists.
D'Angelo Russell throws shade at Zion Williamson who just had a career night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
He learned to embrace the game's physicality by playing in McLeod Park in Florence, South Carolina, as a kid against tougher and older competition. But when facing a human battering ram, you can only do so much, and sending him to the line might be everyone's best bet. Perhaps Russell was irate that Williamson wasn't called for a foul after scoring a layup over Rudy Gobert that allowed New Orleans to tie the game at 116-116 with 50.8 seconds left to play. On Wednesday, the Wolves found it near-impossible to stop the 2019 No. 1 pick, sending him to the charity stripe 19 times. The burly forward had his way against the Wolves' frontcourt and probably got away with some offensive fouls, particularly in a specific clutch possession.
Read the recent NBA news and rumors about Zion Williamson for fantasy basketball. New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson returned from a three-game ...
Williamson has been physically dominant and his shooting percentages have been a major indicator. He put up a new career-high with 43 points on 14-for-21 shooting and 14-for-19 from the free-throw line. Source:
(Reuters) — Zion Williamson scored his team's final 14 points as part of a career-high 43-point night as the host New Orleans Pelicans came from behind to ...
Hachimura made 11 of 13 shots from the floor and 7 of 8 from the free-throw line for Wizards, who have won three in a row and four of their last five games. Dennis Schroder and Russell Westbrook each scored 15 points, with Westbrook dishing a team-high eight assists. Saddiq Bey poured in 28 points and added eight rebounds and four assists, while Bojan Bogdanovic had 14 points with five assists. Prior to the game, Phoenix confirmed that three-time All-Star Devin Booker will be sidelined at least four weeks with a left groin strain. Their efforts paced all five Heat starters to double-figure scoring, joining Tyler Herro with 18 points, Caleb Martin with 13 and Gabe Vincent with 12. Milwaukee snagged 22 offensive rebounds, but the Bulls persevered to win for the fourth time in five games. Orlando's Moritz Wagner and Detroit's Killian Hayes and Hamidou Diallo were tossed for an altercation in the final minute of the first half. They began the latter streak with a 113-110 victory in Phoenix on Dec. Brooklyn outscored Atlanta 12-2 to start the fourth quarter and led by as many as 13 points but couldn't put the Hawks away. Williamson made 14 of 21 field goals and 14 of 19 free throws in his return from a three-game absence due to health and safety protocol. Brooklyn has also matched its third-longest winning streak in franchise history and improved its record in December to a league-best 11-1. Murray then missed a would-be game-winning shot at the buzzer.
Zion Williamson scored 43 points in Wednesday's win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, a new career-high in points for the Pelicans' 22-year-old star.
This season, the 19.2 points in the paint he’s averaging is the most in the NBA. He scored 14 points in the final 2:44 of the game. Williamson is one of the most powerful athletes the NBA has ever seen. Williamson scored 26 points in the paint against Minnesota. In Wednesday’s win against the Timberwolves, Williamson made 14 shots. To avoid getting his shot swatted, Williamson scooped the ball well left and above the rim.
CJ McCollum admitted that he's "never seen anything" like the career-high 43-point outing had to lead the Pelicans to a win against the Timberwolves.
He’s a relentless player that doesn’t take his foot off the pedal, especially when attacking the paint. [03](https://www.slamonline.com/the-magazine/josh-englert/) Williamson scored 14 points over the final three minutes of the game. [02](https://www.slamonline.com/the-magazine/most-elite-hoop-collections-241/) [Zion Williamson](https://www.slamonline.com/?s=Zion+Williamson) is uniquely dominant because it’s hard to name a player with a similar game. [01](https://www.slamonline.com/the-magazine/jadakiss-set-free-richardson-starting-five/) It’s a developing spot that matters a great deal to Williamson. He also went 14-19 from the free-throw line and contributed five assists to help New Orleans beat Minnesota 119-118. The one-time All-Star is focused on winning and knows fans and media will “remember winners.” And that came against three-time Defensive Player of the Year and Timberwolves defensive anchor Furthermore, Williamson has a distinctive playstyle where he goes through or around defenders on his way to the rim with his incredible combination of size, strength, quickness, explosion, touch, and body control. I don’t think we will.”
Zion Williamson recorded a career-high 43 points on Wednesday night, as the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 119-118 to move back to the ...
Be on the lookout for a new episodes every Friday. “I think he's the MVP of our league,” Murphy said in regards to Williamson after Wednesday’s game. Entering his fourth season this year, Zion had missed close to 63 percent of the Pelicans’ total games since being drafted first overall in 2019. “You look at, we're one of the best teams in the West. Put a guard on Zion and he will just back them down into the paint, likely dunking over them with ease. I can’t just sit here and always say that I want to win.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard D'Angelo Russell took a shot at New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson after their game on Wednesday.
But it can be frustrating to defend the former No. We can’t touch him or guard him, so good for him.” Speaking with reporters afterwards, Russell took a shot at Williamson’s style of play. Terrible referees collaborated directly, in a capital moment, for the victory of the good Pelicans team, unfortunately. No foul was called though, and Williamson converted the basket. Though Minnesota led for much of the game, Williamson took over late to score New Orleans’ final 14 points.
The New Orleans Pelicans trailed the Minnesota Timberwolves by five points with less than three minutes remaining Wednesday night.
"We put no defense into the game until the second half, and we had to go zone to do that," Rivers said. "We put no pressure into the ball. "I took the challenge on." "It would have been great to steal the game tonight, but they deserved it so much more than us," coach Doc Rivers said. "I had a bad last two minutes," said Embiid, who added 10 rebounds, three blocks and three steals. "I didn't say anything to (Williamson)," coach Willie Green said.
Scott Ferrall and Mike Carver discuss Zion Williamson.
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The New Orleans Pelicans picked up a hard-fought victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night, winning 119-118. Carrying them to that victory ...
It’s a luxury for us to have a player like Z and he had a dominant performance tonight.” “I don’t know if we will see somebody with that strength, that power, that speed with the ability to still jump east and west and straight up. And CJ looked at me and said, ‘If you wanna be great, this is the time to step up.’ And that was all the motivation I needed.” Carrying them to that victory was [Zion Williamson](https://nbaanalysis.net/2022/12/13/nba-news-new-orleans-pelicans-zion-williamson-major-progression-ultimate-matchup-nightmare/), who had a career night, and put the NBA on notice. “So, whenever that time comes for me to be done with the game of basketball, I want people to say that he was a winner. Williamson shared some of what led to that kind of performance after the game.