NBA: Zion Williamson scores 31 as Pelicans trounce Grizzlies

Zion Williamson scored 31 points as the New Orleans Pelicans salvaged the final game of a four-game road trip by defeating the Memphis Grizzlies 144-113 on Tuesday night.

The Pelicans, who allowed an average of 132 points in losses against Chicago, Dallas and Detroit, took control by allowing 49 points total in the second and third quarters.

Josh Hart came off the bench to score a season-high 27 and Willy Hernangomez had 14 off the bench as the Pelicans' reserves outscored the Grizzlies' reserves 57-30, and all 13 Pelicans who played scored. Brandon Ingram scored 22 and Lonzo Ball had 13 as the Pelicans scored a season-high.

New Orleans, which defeated visiting Memphis 118-109 on Feb. 6, beat the Grizzlies for a fifth consecutive time over the last two seasons.

Ja Morant scored 28, Kyle Anderson had 19, Dillon Brooks added 18 and Jonas Valanciunas had 10 for the Grizzlies.

New Orleans had a five-point halftime lead and Memphis twice pulled within one point early in the third quarter, but couldn't get even.

Williamson hit a 3-pointer and beat the shot clock to make a basket from the lane as the Pelicans took a 79-73 lead midway through the quarter.

Hart made a 3-pointer and Williamson added a layup to push the lead to 90-76.

JJ Redick scored the final seven points of the quarter as New Orleans extended the lead to 101-81.

The Pelicans increased the lead to 23 before the Grizzlies closed within 117-99 on Brooks' 3-pointer with 7:36 remaining.

Hart converted a three-point play and Ingram made a 3-pointer to put New Orleans in command with a 127-104 lead.

Morant scored 10 points and Williamson was scoreless as Memphis took a 30-19 lead.

Williamson scored six of his points and had one of his three assists in the final minute as New Orleans closed within 32-29 at the end of the first quarter.

The Pelicans scored 12 consecutive points to take a 51-48 lead. They built the lead to as many as eight points twice before taking a 63-58 halftime lead.

-reuters-

NBA: Williamson, Pelicans roll over Cavaliers

Rookie Zion Williamson scored 24 points for his 10th consecutive game with at least 20, as the host New Orleans Pelicans routed the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers 116-104 on Friday night.

Brandon Ingram scored 29, Jrue Holiday added 22 and E'Twaun Moore and Nicolo Melli had 10 each, as the Pelicans improved to 3-1 since the All-Star break. 

It was their first home game in 15 days and started a three-game home-stand over five days.

Derrick Favors had 15 rebounds, and Lonzo Ball had 12 assists for New Orleans, which has won six of eight games as it pursues Memphis for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. 

Pelicans guard JJ Redick left the game in the first quarter because of a left hamstring strain and did not return.

Collin Sexton tied his career-high with 31 points to lead the Cavaliers, who are just 17-42 but entered the game with a 3-1 record under coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who took over when John Beilein resigned during the All-Star break.

Kevin Porter Jr. scored 16, Darius Garland had 15, Tristan Thompson had 13 and Kevin Love 10.

New Orleans, which beat the Cavaliers 125-111 on Jan. 28 in Cleveland, swept the season series by winning its ninth straight home game against the Cavs.

The Pelicans led by 15 at halftime, and Ingram scored 11 points as they increased the lead to 93-70 midway through the third quarter.

Sexton made three 3-pointers during a 13-2 run that pulled Cleveland within 95-83 at the end of the third quarter.

But Moore made a 3-pointer, and Williamson followed with a basket to start the fourth-quarter scoring, as the Pelicans regained command with a 17-point lead. The Cavs didn't get closer than 15 until the final two minutes.

The Pelicans set a franchise record for assists in a quarter with 15 in the first. They made 18 of 24 field-goal attempts and scored a season-high in first-quarter points by taking a 43-25 lead.

Sexton scored nine of his 19 first-half points as the Cavaliers outscored New Orleans in the second quarter, but the Pelicans still held a 70-55 halftime edge.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Zion scores 28, Pelicans rally to defeat Warriors

Zion Williamson scored 28 points, his most in a road game this season, and Nicolo Melli saved three of his six 3-pointers for the fourth quarter Sunday night as the New Orleans Pelicans rallied for a 115-101 victory over the Golden State Warriors.

Williamson shot 13-for-20 and added seven rebounds, six on the offensive end, helping the playoff-hopeful Pelicans win for the fifth time in their last six games.

Damion Lee had 22 points and Jordan Poole 19 for the Warriors, who lost their sixth straight.

Seeking a third win over New Orleans this season, Golden State led by as many as 11 points in the first half en route to a 56-46 advantage at the break.

But the Pelicans dominated the second half, beginning with a 22-6 burst early in the third period that turned a 12-point deficit into a 68-64 lead. Jrue Holiday had eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers, and Williamson three hoops in the run.

The Warriors managed to draw even at 77-all by period's end, but New Orleans used another flurry early in the fourth quarter to take command for good.

Melli (two) and Holiday (one) combined for three 3-pointers in an 11-2 spurt that quickly gave the visitors a nine-point lead.

The Warriors got within six on one subsequent occasion, but Melli added another 3-pointer to help the Pelicans pull away.

Williamson's 28 points, which came in just 33 minutes, established a new rookie opponent's scoring record at the new Chase Center in San Francisco. Memphis' Ja Morant set the old mark of 26 in December.

Melli finished with 20 points off the bench, shooting 6-for-7 on 3-pointers. The Pelicans outscored the Warriors 51-33 on threes.

Holiday finished with 23 points and a game-high 15 assists, while Brandon Ingram chipped in with 17 points for the Pelicans, who have opened a three-game trip with a pair of wins.

Juan Toscano-Anderson went for a season-best 16 points, Ky Bowman 15 and Eric Paschall 13 for the Warriors, who fell to 0-2 on their four-game homestand.

Andrew Wiggins was held to eight points on 3-for-16 shooting in the loss, but did find time for a team-high 10 rebounds to complement four assists and two blocks.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Williamson scores 32 but Pelicans fall to Thunder

Danilo Gallinari scored 11 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter as the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder held off the New Orleans Pelicans, 123-118, on Thursday night.

The Thunder completed a four-game sweep of the season series in the last game for both teams before the All-Star break.

Dennis Schroder had seven of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 17 points, Chris Paul had 14 points and 12 assists, Steven Adams had 11 points and 11 rebounds and Mike Muscala scored 10.

Rookie Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with a season-high 32 points, surpassing the 31 he had two nights earlier against the Portland Trail Blazers. JJ Redick scored 24, Lonzo Ball had 16 points and Jrue Holiday totaled 14 points and 11 assists. New Orleans played its third straight game without All-Star forward Brandon Ingram, who has a sprained ankle.

The Thunder led by eight points at halftime, but Williamson scored eight points as the Pelicans took a 76-75 lead.

Paul made a 3-pointer to put Oklahoma City back on top, and Muscala had eight points during a 14-0 run that gave the Thunder a 94-81 lead.

Holiday's layup stopped the run, Redick scored eight straight points and Holiday made another layup to cut Oklahoma City's lead to 98-93 at the end of the quarter.

Redick and Williamson scored four points each as New Orleans pulled even at 101.

Schroder's 3-pointer put the Thunder back on top, but Williamson answered with back-to-back baskets.

Gallinari's basket put Oklahoma City ahead before Ball's 3-pointer gave New Orleans a 111-110 lead.

But Gallinari scored the next five points to give the Thunder the lead for good.

Both teams shot better than 50 percent from the field in the first quarter and Nicolo Melli's 3-pointer gave New Orleans a 30-29 lead at the end of the period.

The score was tied five times in the second quarter before Oklahoma City finished with a strong push. Adams beat the buzzer with a one-handed toss from beyond half court to give the Thunder a 66-58 halftime lead.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Hype real? Zion Williamson earns lavish praise in NBA debut

New Orleans rookie Zion Williamson flashed some brilliance in his long-awaited NBA debut Wednesday, but the San Antonio Spurs spoiled the party at Smoothie King Center with a 121-117 victory over the Pelicans.

Williamson, who was the No. 1 overall draft pick in June, offered a tantalizing glimpse of what's to come in his career when he exploded for 17 points in little more than three minutes in the fourth quarter.

The 19-year-old sensation had been sidelined since arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on the eve of the Pelicans' season-opener in October.

He made a tentative start, scoring just five points with four rebounds, one assist four turnovers in less than 12 minutes on the floor over the first three quarters.

With 8:52 remaining and the Spurs up 99-91, Williamson connected with a three-pointer from the top of the key that ignited the crowd of 18,365.

He followed up with an alley-oop layup, fed by Lonzo Ball, drained a trey and put back his own miss with a spinning layup before adding two more three-pointers.

The crowd was chanting "M-V-P!" as he capped the burst with a free-throw, but he was soon subbed out of the game as Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry stuck to the plan of playing Williamson only in short bursts.

"I think what you saw there is a taste," Gentry said. "There's a lot of potential there."

He said he'd counseled Williamson at halftime to be more aggressive, and he was pleased to see him deliver.

"I think there's a really, really high ceiling that he can reach, and he can reach it soon," added Gentry, who nevertheless was impervious to the cries of "We want Zion" from fans late in the fourth quarter.

"It was very hard," Williamson acknowledged of coming out of the game just as he had found his rhythm. "I'm 19. Honestly, in that moment I'm not thinking about longevity I'm thinking about winning that game.

"So it was very tough," added Williamson, who finished with 22 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

The Spurs, who led by as many as 15 and by 12 to start the fourth quarter, were up 109-108 when Williamson departed and quickly pulled away again.

LaMarcus Aldridge led the Spurs with 32 points and DeMar DeRozan added 20 for a San Antonio team holding down the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.

Williamson, who admitted on Tuesday he wasn't sure just how much sleep he'd get on the eve of his debut, said that as the pre-game introductions were made he just told himself to "be calm."

- 'Great stuff' -

He said it wasn't just Gentry who urged him at halftime to defer less but also teammates including Jrue Holiday.

"I think he did well," Holiday said, commending the teenager's poise.

"We're almost in February and he hadn't played a game yet, so for him to come out and do that his first game is pretty elite."

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was pleased to have a courtside seat for Williamson's debut.

"Oh, yeah, it's great stuff, I'm glad he’s back, a talent like that," Popovich said. "He's a great guy on top of it all. So it's good for the Pelicans. It's good for basketball. He's quite a package as a player and as a person."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Zion Williamson excites NBA like no rookie since LeBron

WASHINGTON -- Zion Williamson has excited NBA fans like no rookie since LeBron James, but knee injuries before his debut have also brought worries about the New Orleans Pelicans teen star.

An incredible pre-season run saw Williamson average 23.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists a game in four games for the Pelicans, sinking a staggering 71 percent of his shots and dominating inside.

"He's a monster," New York Knicks coach David Fizdale said. "He's a beast. He's just going to continue to get better and better. We understand that kid is a heck of a player."

But the 19-year-old US forward's size -- 6-foot-7 (2.00m) and 285 pounds (129kg) -- combined with his high-leaping heroics as well as speed and power, has many worrying that nagging knee injuries will continue and worsen unless he loses weight and improves his fitness.

"He's carrying so much weight. He's so athletic. I think he's going to have to lose a little bit more weight," says retired NBA star and television analyst Paul Pierce.

Williamson will miss the Pelicans' NBA season opener Tuesday at Toronto and at least a couple of weeks as a result of a right knee injury suffered in a pre-season game. It's the same knee he famously sprained in college when his Nike shoe exploded during a game.

The shoemaker's stock fell $1.1 billion the next day but Williamson's stock has been rising since he turned high school stardom into a one-season run at Duke University -- where he averaged 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.8 blocked shots a game.

His 68 percent accuracy rate was the best ever for a freshman in major US college basketball.

"He's too big, too strong. He's going to continue to do that hopefully over his whole career," said New York Knicks rookie R.J. Barrett, formerly Williamson's roommate at Duke.

It was enough to convince the Pelicans to select Williamson with the top pick in June's NBA Draft and trade Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for young supporting talent that figures to blend well with Williamson.

"For me to be selected number one, I can't dream it no better than that," Williamson said.

"I think we can build something. I see myself trying to step into a leadership role. I have to understand my teammates and understand where their heads are. It's a matter of us coming together, making the same goals and just willing to win, and I think we can do something special."

- 'I'll adjust very well' -

Williamson played only nine minutes in the Vegas Summer League before he banged left knees in a collision and was benched for the remainder of the get-acquainted NBA games.

"The physicality is a little bit different. There are more players that are a lot stronger, so you have to find more skilled ways to score," Williamson said.

"But I feel like with my size, it's not going to be that big of an adjustment. I feel like I'll adjust very well."

There are plenty of other lifestyle changes in the NBA, the travel and longer schedule as well as faster and more physical rivals.

"It's just a different lifestyle," he said. "The grind is different. You always have to find different ways to stay ahead of your opponent."

That has proven troublesome for the Pelicans in past years. New Orleans went 33-49 last season and the team has won only two playoff series since starting in 2002, never going past the second round of the post-season.

NBA general managers, however, predicted Williamson will be the 2020 NBA Rookie of the Year with 68 percent support.

"I'm a Zion believer and whatever he does I'll be right behind him 100 percent," said Pelicans guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker. "If he wants to shoot wide open threes and knock it down, then by all means keep doing that. It's only going to make him harder to guard and the team better."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Nike inks endorsement deal with basketball star Zion Williamson

Nike Inc has signed Zion Williamson, the No. 1 NBA draft pick and rising 19-year-old basketball star, to its Jordan brand, the world's largest sportswear maker said on Tuesday.

Williamson, the reigning college basketball player of the year, dominated in his only season at Duke University, breaking several school records, including most 25-point games by a freshman.

The New Orleans Pelicans signed Williamson after picking him first overall in the National Basketball Association draft.

Williamson, who has drawn comparisons to former NBA great and Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, is known for his athleticism.

With his uncommon blend of leaping ability and wide, muscular build, Williamson churned out a string of highlight plays in his lone season at Duke, including 360-degree slam dunks, towering rebounds and stunning blocked shots.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed by Nike. Its shares rose 1% to $86.81.

The 6-foot-7-inch (2 meters), 285-pound (129.3 kg) forward was involved in a social media storm earlier this year after a Nike sneaker he was wearing split during a game causing him to suffer a mild knee sprain. Nike apologized for the malfunction.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama was in attendance at that game in February against Duke rival University of North Carolina and later wished Williamson a speedy recovery in a tweet.

Willamson's signing with Nike comes as no surprise given the loyalty and reputation the company has in the basketball community, Jane Hali & Associates analyst Jessica Ramirez said.

"His signing with Jordan just proves how important the brand is becoming for Nike as they continue to revive it," she added.

Nike's Jordan Brand, named for retired basketball icon Michael Jordan, already counts NBA stars such as Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul in its roster.

"He's an essential part of the new talent that will help lead the brand into the future," said Jordan, the six-time NBA champion and five-time league Most Valuable Player.

Williamson made only a brief appearance in his NBA summer league debut earlier this month, but still wowed fans with a ferocious steal and dunk.

Williamson plans to skip taking part in Team USA training camp later this summer to focus on preparing for Pelicans training camp, ESPN reported this week.

(Reporting by Uday Sampath and Arjun Panchadar in Bengaluru and Lewis Krauskopf in New York; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty, David Gregorio and Bill Berkrot)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Pelicans pick Zion Williamson No. 1 overall

It's official: Zion Williamson is the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

"I dreamed about this since I was 4," Williamson said Thursday as he was picked by the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Pelicans selected the Duke power forward with the top selection, finalizing a decision considered a foregone conclusion since the draft lottery last month. The 6-foot-7, 285-pound Williamson wore a cream-colored suit jacket and sat with family members as he heard his name called at Brooklyn's Barclays Center.

"I don't know what to say," Williamson said, breaking down into tears in an interview with ESPN immediately following the pick. "I didn't think I'd be in this position. My mom sacrificed a lot for me. I wouldn't be here without her.

"She put her dreams aside for mine. She always looked out for the family first before herself."

Williamson, the college basketball player of the year, dominated in his only season at the collegiate level. He averaged 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while making 33 starts.

He added 2.1 steals and 1.8 blocks per game with an elite combination of size and athleticism.

The Spartanburg, South Carolina, native immediately will become the face of the Pelicans' franchise. New Orleans went 33-49 last season and recently agreed to a blockbuster deal to send center Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers for a package of players and picks.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Pelicans eye Williamson, future in NBA Draft

NEW YORK -- Teenage star Zion Williamson is set to be chosen with the top pick in the NBA Draft on Thursday as the New Orleans Pelicans launch their quest to build a team of championship contenders.

Williamson, who turns 19 on July 6, is the overwhelming favourite to be chosen with the number one selection after a dazzling season in college basketball with Duke University.

The 6 ft 7in (2.01m) teenager, who weighs in at 285 pounds (129kg), is regarded by many experts as the sort of once in a generation talent capable of reaching the pinnacle of the NBA.

Williamson, who averaged averaged 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game for Duke before declaring for the draft in April, offers a rare mix of imposing size and explosive athleticism.

"There are some things he obviously needs to work on, but at 6-7, 285, people ask who does he remind me of? Nobody," said NBA TV analyst Steve Smith.

"There is not anyone I've seen like this (at that size). No one has jumped like this. There is nobody he reminds me of."

While Williamson's skills were not enough to carry Duke to the championship, his talent did see him win the Naismith College Player of the Year award.

That achievement placed him in elite company alongside Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis as the only freshman winners of the honour.

Las Vegas bookmakers, meanwhile, have already installed Williamson as a 2/9 favourite to win the NBA's Rookie of the Year Award in 2020.

For Pelicans president of basketball operations, David Griffin, Thursday's draft is a chance to reshape the franchise.

The Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers agreed to a blockbuster trade on Saturday which will see Anthony Davis heading to the Lakers to form a partnership with LeBron James.

In return, New Orleans acquired the Lakers' Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart as well as three first-round picks -- including the number four overall selection in Thursday's draft.

The Davis trade has given New Orleans added negotiating muscle for the draft. Reports on Monday said the Pelicans were contemplating swapping the number four pick in exchange for a more proven player.

The New York Post meanwhile reported that the Pelicans were even exploring the possibility of trading up to secure the number two pick in order to land Williamson's former Duke team-mate and close friend R.J. Barrett, who had been expected to be chosen third by the New York Knicks.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NCAA: Zion Williamson wins Naismith Player of Year award

LOS ANGELES -- Duke University star Zion Williamson was honoured with the Naismith Trophy Player of the Year award on Sunday after a dazzling freshman season in college basketball that is likely to make him the top pick in the NBA draft.

The 18-year-old Blue Devils phenom is only the third freshman to win the prestigious award, which has been handed out to the best player in men's college basketball every year since 1969.

"It is truly an honor to receive this and join such an elite list of former Blue Devils to have also won the award," Williamson said in a statement. 

"There were so many great players who could have won this award this year. I can't thank my teammates, coaches and family enough for helping me. This is a team award, and it's an honor for me to accept this on behalf of my brothers."

The only other players to win the Naismith in their first season of college basketball were Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant and New Orleans Pelicans ace Anthony Davis.

Previous winners of the trophy include Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Patrick Ewing, Larry Bird, Bill Walton and Lew Alcindor.

Williamson averaged 22.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game this season. Duke were knocked out of March Madness in the Elite Eight round of competition.

However the teenager's performances mean he is almost certain to be chosen as the top pick in this year's NBA Draft.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Nike stumbles into social media storm after basketball star's shoe splits

NEW YORK - A Nike Inc sneaker worn by a college basketball superstar split in half less than a minute into a highly anticipated game between Duke University and North Carolina, prompting an outcry on social media as the company sought to figure out what caused the malfunction.

Zion Williamson, a 6-foot-7-inch freshman forward for the Duke Blue Devils who is anticipated to be the top 2019 NBA Draft pick, suffered a mild sprain to his right knee because of the incident, according to his coach Mike Krzyzewski.

A closeup video replay showed Williamson slipping and crumpling to the ground, clutching his knee in pain. His left shoe is seen split in half, with part of the sole ripped off the base of the sneaker.

Williamson did not return to play in the match-up, which ended with No. 1-ranked Duke losing 72-88 to the No. 8-ranked Tar Heels team.

"We are obviously concerned and want to wish Zion a speedy recovery," Nike said in a statement.

"The quality and performance of our products are of utmost importance. While this is an isolated occurrence, we are working to identify the issue."

Shares of the sportswear maker were down more than 1 percent in afternoon trading Thursday, a day after the incident, wiping off some $1.46 billion from Nike's market capitalization since Wednesday's close.

Oppenheimer analyst Brian Nagel said in a note he was optimistic "any lasting damage to the company and its shares will prove minimal."

Williamson was wearing the Nike PG 2.5 basketball shoe when he was injured, Nike confirmed to Reuters in an email.

The line of sneakers, launched in summer of 2018, sells for $95-$105 on Nike's website.

The shoe received mixed reviews and a rating of 4 out of 5 stars on Nike.com as of Thursday.

Nike is Duke's exclusive supplier of uniforms, shoes and apparel under a 12-year contract that was extended in 2015 and has had an exclusive deal with the private university since 1992, ESPN reported.

The company's latest results showed signs of a rebound as it speeds up new product launches and expands partnerships with online retailers. The Beaverton, Oregon-based company has forecast sales growth for 2019 approaching low double digits.

Williamson, who averaged 21.6 points a game, has been tipped as the "next Lebron James" and is expected to be selected first in the NBA Draft this June.

Krzyzewski said it was unclear how long Williamson would be out because of the injury.

Former President Barack Obama, director Spike Lee and star NFL running back Todd Gurley attended the game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, the home court of the Blue Devils.

A video from the match posted on Twitter showed Obama sitting courtside, expressing shock and mouthing the words, "his shoe broke!"

The incident lit up social media, with celebrities and some of basketball's biggest stars expressing shock and dismay.

"Hope young fella is ok!" tweeted LeBron James (@KingJames) on Wednesday. "Literally blew thru his," he added, using a shoe emoji.

"Again let's remember all the money that went into this game.... and these players get none of it," Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell), a former first-round NBA draft pick and current guard for the Utah Jazz, tweeted on Wednesday. "And now Zion gets hurt... something has to change."

This is not the first time Nike has faced controversy over the craftsmanship of its sportswear. In 2017, the company faced a backlash when several NBA jerseys worn by basketball stars, including James, ripped apart.

source: news.abs-cbn.com