No group within the NBA is hotter than the New Orleans Pelicans proper now, and Zion Williamson is the explosive engine propelling them ahead.
The Pelicans defeated the Brooklyn Nets 104-91 on Tuesday to notch a seventh win of their previous eight video games, with Williamson posting a team-high 28 factors on 11-of-16 taking pictures plus seven rebounds and 4 assists.
Two of these factors got here on what would have been a dunk of the 12 months frontrunner had Anthony Edwards not thrown the curve someday prior. Nonetheless, it bears saying: this was one unbelievable alley-oop.
Pelicans wing Naji Marshall obtained issues began by selecting Cam Thomas‘ pocket within the fourth quarter, resulting in a 2-on-1 quick break with Williamson behind him. Marshall threw again a ball that only a few NBA gamers would have a hope of bringing in. Luckily, Williamson is considered one of them.
You’ll be able to see the consequence within the video above. You’ll be able to see the place Williamson caught the ball within the screengrab beneath.
“It was loopy. Me and [Marshall] had simply talked about it,” Williamson mentioned after the sport. “He mentioned ‘Hey man, whenever you go to the paint you have to begin dunking.’ So when he obtained the steal I mentioned ‘Oh he is throwing it.’ He threw a very good cross, I went and obtained it.”
That efficiency is the newest in a large streak for Williamson, which has put the Pelicans on one other degree. In his final seven video games, the 23-year-old is averaging 26.7 factors, 8.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists per recreation with 64.0% taking pictures.
Extra importantly, the Pelicans have moved from 3.5 video games again to only a half-game again from the Los Angeles Clippers for fourth place within the Western Convention, which carries home-court benefit for the primary spherical of the NBA playoffs. With 14 video games remaining and the third-place Minnesota Timberwolves lacking Karl-Anthony Cities, it is not inconceivable New Orleans might climb even additional.
