NBA Roundup: Williamson’s return sparks Pelicans; Sheppard lifts Rockets; Coward impresses Grizzlies
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New Orleans, Houston and Memphis all received encouraging performances from key young players as the NBA regular season moved into its final stretch.
Pelicans
The Pelicans rediscovered their offense with Zion Williamson back in uniform, routing the Bulls 143-111 on Monday in Chicago. Two nights earlier, New Orleans managed just 98 points while the 23-year-old forward rested on the second game of a back-to-back. Williamson scored 29 points against the Bulls, leading eight teammates who also reached double figures.
Interim coach James Borrego, guiding the club since Willie Green’s dismissal, earned his first victory thanks to what he called “a better team win” when reviewing the box score.
Rockets
Rookie guard Reed Sheppard continued to make the most of extra minutes for Houston despite a cold shooting night in Phoenix. The 21-year-old went 2-for-9 from the floor on Monday, yet the Rockets were plus-six during his 27 minutes, extending the team’s streak to eight consecutive games winning his minutes on court.
Sheppard finished with five assists and three steals and is now averaging 13.1 points and 3.2 assists while shooting 49.0 percent overall and 47.1 percent from three-point range. “We needed him to take that step this year,” coach Ime Udoka said. With Kevin Durant out for personal reasons Monday and again Wednesday, Sheppard is expected to remain in the starting lineup.
Grizzlies
Memphis’ decision to trade up for Cedric Coward at No. 11 in last summer’s draft is looking shrewd. A Western Conference scout told RG.org the late-blooming forward “looks completely comfortable at this level” after concerns arising from a partially torn rotator cuff limited him to six Division I games in college.
Early returns suggest the rookie is outperforming optimistic projections, reinforcing the Grizzlies’ belief that his game would translate quickly against NBA competition.
Source: Hoops Wire
