His NBA landing sion Williamson came accompanied by a publicity too much. There were many reasons, since he was a physical profile that he hadn’t seen in a long time, someone with immense strength and power, but also someone fragile and whose injuries would greatly limit him. If anything has become clear in the very short time that the player from the New Orleans Pelicans was available is that there is no other like him and that very few are capable of achieving his aggressive impact. Today’s vs. Minnesota Timberwolves is the best proof.
With his absence 2:44 By the end of the game, the Pelicans trailed by four points, a margin that wasn’t huge but reflected the edge the Wolves had throughout the game. The visitors had done a good job defensively with McCollum and Valanciunas, limiting New Orleans’ system significantly, and it made sense that they would get the win soon.
until he woke up Zion.
Williamson fired within seconds and began to take charge of leading his side to a close range victory. The young man born in South Carolina scored all of the Pelicans’ points in the final 3 minutes of the game, including a triple and four baskets of two minutes in a row.
Almost better seen than told:
👎 The Pelicans lost at home to Minnesota. And then, Zion passed…
🔥 𝗽𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗼𝘀 𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘀 𝗱𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗼𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗼𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗼𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗼𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗼𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗼𝘀 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯 𝟯
ZION. WILLIAMSON.pic.twitter.com/j38yLPbsPH
— Sportingnewses Spain 🇪🇸 (@sportingnewses) December 29, 2022
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Williamson’s insistence on attacking the paint left Minnesota’s defense unanswered, which tried to switch signs and protect the rim without success. Such was the young underdog’s outburst that even Rudy Gobert couldn’t contain him, fouling out after going two in that very short set. The balance of the star at the close? 5 of 5 from the field and 3 of 4 from the free throw line. Impeccable.
All this for Zion to reach a new high in his career 43 points, 33 of them in the second half, on a 14-of-21 shooting streak (66.7%), adding 3 rebounds and 5 assists. The 22-year-old scored 26 points in the paint, his second-highest mark this season and the 14th time he’s scored 20+, a stat that reflects his control and dominance in the restricted area.
The star’s performance deserved the 119 to 118 victory for some soaring pelicans 22-12 and on the lookout for the Western Region lead.
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