Zion Williamson donned his uniform for the New Orleans Pelicans for the first time in 62 days.
The impact he has when playing was clearly apparent.
The Pelicans were insufficiently competitive, losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves 104-97 on Tuesday night at Smoothie King Centre.
The Pelicans (7-30) anticipated that Williamson’s return would sustain the momentum generated from their recent back-to-back victories, achieved for only the second time this season.
They failed to shoot adequately and lacked a solution for Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards. Edwards collected 21 of his 32 points throughout the first half. Edwards concluded the evening by successfully converting 7 of 11 three-point attempts.
“Anthony Edwards is currently excelling,” stated Pelicans coach Willie Green. “He is among the premier young talents in the league.”
Williamson, having missed 30 games due to a hamstring injury, recorded 22 points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block in 28 minutes of play.
“It is astonishing,” Green remarked. “His capacity to influence the basketball game while he is on the court.” He exhibited minor rust, although that is the best performance I have observed from him following his absence.
A highlight reel featured a 360 windmill slam early in the second half.
“He has exerted tremendous effort to reach this juncture,” Green stated. “When he performs at his peak, our team is significantly improved.”
The Pelicans matched the Timberwolves (19-17), who advanced to the Western Conference playoffs last season.
Williamson entered the contest with averages of 22.7 points, 8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists over six games played.
“He is a formidable presence on the basketball court,” Green stated. “This is widely acknowledged.” Upon his entrance onto the floor, he imparts a distinctive vitality to our team. We are eager to see him return.
The Pelicans were missing Trey Murphy, who sustained a left ankle injury during Sunday’s win against the Washington Wizards.
For the first time, Williamson and Dejounte Murray were included in the lineup simultaneously. Murray, having recently achieved his inaugural triple-double as a Pelican on Sunday, concluded the game with a season-high of 29 points. It surpassed the 26 points he recorded against OKC in December.
“We have not had our players on the court simultaneously for several games,” Green stated. The greater the number of our top players on the court, the more advantageous it will be. We can achieve momentum, foster camaraderie, and establish consistency on the floor.
Williamson and Murray received minimal assistance. CJ McCollum, who accumulated 50 points on Friday and 25 on Sunday, encountered difficulties on Tuesday. McCollum converted only 1 of 14 field goal attempts and succeeded in making just one of his seven three-point attempts, concluding the game with a mere 5 points. The Pelicans recorded a shooting percentage of 37 percent from the field and 30 percent from beyond the arc.
The Pelicans resume play on Wednesday when they host the Portland Trail Blazers. The Pelicans divided their two games against the Blazers at the season’s outset.
Notwithstanding the defeat, Green expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance in their inaugural match with Williamson and Murray.
“This represents a limited sample of the team’s potential,” stated Green. “We must consistently replicate performances of that calibre and strive for victories.”
