Zion Williamson starts - but doesn't finish - for New Orleans Pelicans in restart opener

Zion Williamson was limited to 15 minutes of playing time in the New Orleans Pelicans' loss to the Utah Jazz as the NBA season resumed on Thursday night.

Zion Williamson heads to the bench during the Pelicans' loss to the Jazz

 

Williamson completed the Pelicans' opening possession by slicing through two converging Jazz defenders and laying the ball in off the glass with his left hand as he was fouled.

The Pelicans stuck to a cautious plan to ease Williamson back into action after he missed nearly two weeks of practice this month while attending to a private family medical matter. Perhaps just a few more minutes on the court for the NBA's top overall draft choice would have made a difference in a 106-104 loss to the Utah Jazz on Thursday night.

"It is frustrating, but it's not so frustrating," Williamson said, noting the Pelicans "could probably not even let me play. But I am able to play, so I am going to do as much as I can while I am out there."

Williamson scored 13 points in about 15 minutes, using spin moves and explosive drives to hit contested, leaning lay-ups. He also used a sudden spin to leave defender Georges Niang flat-footed in the high post and then raced to the hoop to throw down Lonzo Ball's alley-oop lob from near half court. He later added another dunk on an alley-oop feed from Jrue Holiday.

 

"He looked good," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said. "He had some good moments and obviously we are a much better and a much different basketball team when he is out on the floor." ราคาบอลวันนี้

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