New Orleans Pelicans ahead Zion Williamson (1) drives on Detroit Pistons guard Malachi Flynn (14) within the second half of an NBA basketball recreation in Detroit, Sunday, March 24, 2024. (AP Photograph/Paul Sancya)
DETROIT — Zion Williamson scored 36 factors and led the New Orleans Pelicans to a 114-101 victory over the short-handed Detroit Pistons on Sunday.
Williamson shot 13 for 14 from the ground and 10 for 14 from the road in 36 minutes. He added seven rebounds and 6 assists and acquired applause from the gang at Little Caesars Enviornment when he left the sport with 1:20 remaining.
“He bought it going about midway via the primary quarter, and we had been simply going to trip it,” Pelicans coach Willie Inexperienced stated. “That’s why I didn’t take him out till the second.”
Zion goes 11 of 12 from the sphere to steer the @PelicansNBA to their ninth win over the past 11 video games! 📈
32 PTS | 11-12 FGM | 7 REB | 6 AST | 2 STL pic.twitter.com/9orpYMfDnT
— NBA (@NBA) March 24, 2024
Williamson grew to become the third participant within the final 20 years to attain 35 factors and not using a 3-pointer and with fewer than 15 subject purpose makes an attempt. Dwyane Wade did it in 2005 and 2006, and Dwight Howard completed the feat in 2013.
“I do know my teammates and my coaches belief me,” stated Williamson, who had 4 factors in opposition to Miami on Friday. “I wasn’t tripping over that recreation. Coming into this recreation, I simply wished to get the win and that’s what we did.”
CJ McCollum scored 23 factors for the Pelicans (44-27), who’ve gained 5 of six.
The Pistons performed with out 4 of their 5 starters. Cade Cunningham (knee), Jalen Duren (again), Isaiah Stewart (hamstring) and Ausar Thompson (sickness) missed the sport, and sixth man Simone Fontecchio (toe) was additionally sidelined. Jaden Ivey was the one out there participant to have scored greater than 500 factors this season.
Chimezu Metu and Malachi Flynn every scored 17 factors for Detroit (12-59), which misplaced its sixth straight. Ivey added 16 factors and Buddy Boeheim had a career-high 13. The Pistons want 4 wins of their final 11 video games to keep away from exceeding the franchise document of 66 losses.
“Our guys believed they might play with the Pelicans,” Pistons coach Monty Williams stated. “They went on the market and gave us an opportunity to compete. Zion’s only a load when he’s taking part in downhill.”
New Orleans led 57-41 after two durations and did simply sufficient to maintain the Pistons from mounting a major rally within the second half.
The Pistons’ patchwork offense has struggled to attain. Within the first quarter, Detroit shot 21.1% (4 for 19) from the ground, together with 0 for 10 from 3-point vary, on the way in which to a season-low 10 factors. New Orleans managed extra factors off turnovers (11) and led by 19 factors heading into the second quarter.
“We simply turned it over,” Williams stated. “We had eight or 9 within the first quarter. The ball wasn’t sticking and we had been taking part in within the crowd.”
Boeheim matched his profession excessive with eight factors within the second quarter and the Pistons trailed by 16 factors on the break.
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NEXT SCHEDULE
Pelicans: Host the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Tuesday.
Pistons: On the New York Knicks on Monday.
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