CHICAGO — Zion Williamson delivered 18 points, including seven in the closing four minutes, to push the New Orleans Pelicans past the Chicago Bulls 114-104 on Sunday night.
The two-time All-Star, sidelined the previous five games with a right hip adductor strain, entered 4:35 into the first quarter and logged just under 27 minutes. Interim coach James Borrego opted to bring the forward off the bench so he could finish the contest with fresh legs, a plan Williamson said “allowed me to close the game.”
Williamson punctuated his return with a highlight-reel dunk 37 seconds from the buzzer, sealing a victory that lifted New Orleans to 5-22. The 2019 No. 1 overall pick has been held to 11 appearances this season because of four separate injuries.
Before Sunday, Williamson averaged 22.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 30.9 minutes over 10 games. He scored a season-best 29 points against Chicago on Nov. 24, halting a nine-game Pelicans skid.
Borrego credited the forward’s rehabilitation work for speeding up the latest recovery. Williamson, who missed eight straight games earlier with a hamstring strain and sat out the second night of a back-to-back on Nov. 30 in Los Angeles as a precaution, praised the training staff for making rehab “faster but more efficient.”
The short-handed Bulls played without guard Ayo Dosunmu (sprained thumb). Guard Kevin Huerter returned from a four-game absence caused by a left adductor strain and supplied 16 points off the bench, while Coby White led Chicago with 20. Seven Bulls were on minutes restrictions as the club fell for the eighth time in nine outings.
Both teams had snapped seven-game losing streaks with road victories Friday night.
Source: ESPN
