TITLE: Zion Williamson Returns, but Pelicans Drop Seventh Straight to Nuggets
SLUG: zion-williamson-return-pelicans-nuggets-seventh-straight-loss
CONTENT:
New Orleans welcomed Zion Williamson back to the lineup Wednesday night, yet the Pelicans’ skid continued with a 125-118 loss to the Denver Nuggets at Smoothie King Center.
The forward logged 29 minutes in his first appearance after missing eight games with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain. He posted a game-best plus-14, while New Orleans was outscored by 21 during the 19 minutes he was on the bench.
“He got us off to a really good start,” head coach James Borrego told reporters. “His energy and spirit are really important for the team, the city and the organization. We feel like we have a shot every night when he’s on the floor.”
The defeat was New Orleans’ seventh in a row and left Borrego still searching for his first victory since replacing Willie Green last Saturday.
Cleared for Dallas, Status for Back-to-Back Uncertain
Williamson practiced in full on Thursday and did not appear on the Pelicans’ injury report for Friday’s matchup against the Mavericks in Dallas, according to William Guillory of The Athletic. The club returns home Saturday to face the Atlanta Hawks, and it remains undetermined whether the All-Star forward will play both ends of the back-to-back as he continues to manage his hamstring.
Source: Hoops Wire
