Zion Williamson

Pelicans forward Zion Williamson "tweaked his ankle" and was forced to leave Saturday's win over the Jazz in the second quarter.

Zion Williamson and James Borrego’s fate are not the only two big decisions facing the New Orleans Pelicans this offseason. Saddiq Bey will be extension-eligible in July, but the rules limit the starting salary of a veteran extension to roughly 140% of the Estimated Average Player Salary, projected to be about $21 million annually. That […] The post Why Pelicans, Saddiq Bey must explore $80 million contract extension this summer appeared first on ClutchPoints .

Saddiq Bey scored 42 points, Zion Williamson had 20 and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Utah Jazz 129-118 on Thursday night to open a two-game set. The teams will meet again in Salt Lake City on Saturday night. The Pelicans, who opened a six-game trip, have won three straight and five of seven to improve to 18-42.

The best cliches span sports for a reason, especially those about defense. Unique comparisons and analogies follow closely behind. With the NFL Combine coming up soon, James Borrego brought up some Hall of Fame legends when talking about how Herb Jones and Draymond Green control a game. Zion Williamson got a mention to explain how […] The post Pelicans’ James Borrego makes legendary NFL comparisons for Draymond Green, Zion Williamson appeared first on ClutchPoints .

The math says Zion Williamson’s walking-wounded New Orleans Pelicans have virtually no chance of reaching the NBA Play-In Tournament. Dejounte Murray says otherwise. After missing 13 months recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, Murray made his season debut Tuesday and promptly took to social media with some bold declarations. There will be no quit in […] The post Dejounte Murray’s play-in take is nuts, but here’s how Pelicans set stage to contend next season appeared first on ClutchPoin...

A look around the league reveals Zion Williamson finding the ability to stay on the court, plus emerging options on the Clippers, Kings and Jazz.

Zion Williamson scored 26 points, Dejounte Murray added 13 in his first game in nearly 13 months, and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the injury-depleted Golden State Warriors 113-109 on Tuesday night. Saddiq Bey scored 18 points, including a reverse layup he spun off the glass while being fouled to give New Orleans a 107-101 lead with 1:47 left. Former Warriors guard Jordan Poole added 12 points for New Orleans, which won its second straight and posted its fourth victory in six games.

Golden State’s rough first quarter put them in a bad spot in the defeat on the road

The New Orleans Pelicans will be taking on the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night, and it’ll mark a number of special occasions for players in the franchise. First and foremost, guard Dejounte Murray will be making his long-awaited return to the basketball court after missing a total of 13 months due to a torn […] The post Pelicans news: Zion Williamson to make personal history vs. Warriors appeared first on ClutchPoints .

When Zion Williamson’s overly optimistic New Orleans Pelicans opened the season, Karlo Matkovic was not penciled in as a key rotational piece. However, through sheer effort, physicality, and an infectious team-first mentality, the young big man has forced James Borrego into a welcome dilemma. Matkovic’s steady rise from a fringe option to a trusted contributor […] The post How Pelicans’ hidden gem is making things ‘tough’ on James Borrego appeared first on ClutchPoints .

Cade Cunningham is a clear first-team All-NBA candidate and has moved up from 19th to 14th in PER. RealGM's Player Value Index Rankings rates him more favorably at No. 7 for this season . NBA PER (Week 17) 1. Nikola Jokic: 33.7 2. Giannis Antetokounmpo: 32.8 3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 31.2 4. Victor Wembanyama: 27.9 5. Kawhi Leonard: 27.1 6. Luka Doncic: 27.1 7. Joel Embiid: 24.6 8. Jalen Duren: 24.0 9. Jimmy Butler III: 23.5 10. Zion Williamson: 23.3 11. Donovan Mitchell: 23.1 12. Austin Re...

Jordan Poole highlighted a 23-point performance with five 3-pointers, and the New Orleans Pelicans outscored Philadelphia 60-35 during the final 21 minutes to beat the 76ers 126-111 on Saturday night. Zion Williamson added 21 points, Saddiq Bey had 20, and 17-year veteran center DeAndre Jordan grabbed 15 rebounds and blocked four shots.

The New Orleans Pelicans enter Friday’s matchup vs. the Milwaukee Bucks with more than positioning at stake. Zion Williamson’s contract incentives have moved into focus as his games-played milestones carry major financial implications for the franchise cornerstone. Williamson has appeared in 40 games this season and is in the midst of a 30‑game streak without […] The post The $16.9 million boost Pelicans’ Zion Williamson is about to get from playing vs. Bucks appeared first on ClutchPoints .

The NBA Slam Dunk Contest has always been a staple of All-Star Weekend. It is the one event we always anticipated watching as kids, and it’s arguably the most searched NBA content on YouTube, as fans always want to relive the jaw-dropping moments from Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, Zach LaVine, and Aaron Gordon, among many […] The post Why it’s time for NBA to ditch Dunk Contest after latest flop at All-Star Weekend appeared first on ClutchPoints .

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Trey Murphy III made five 3-pointers and finished with 21 points, Jeremiah Fears scored 14 of his 20 in the second half and the New Orleans Pelicans sent the Sacramento Kings to their 13th straight loss Monday night, 120-94. The Kings have their most consecutive losses since the franchise moved from Kansas City to Sacramento ahead of the 1985-86 season. Murphy has made 23 3-pointers on 40 attempts (72.5%) in the last three games. Zion Williamson scored 18 points on 7-of-11 ...

Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch pointed to defensive lapses, stalled offense and a loss of urgency after New Orleans erased an 18-point deficit to win 119-115 on Friday night at Target Center. The result dropped Minnesota to 32-21, while the Pelicans improved to 14-40 behind efficient interior scoring and late execution. “Yeah, I mean, […] The post Chris Finch explains Timberwolves collapse after Pelicans rally behind Zion appeared first on TalkBasket.net .

Zion Williamson’s New Orleans Pelicans have discovered a formula that’s breathing new life into the James Borrego-led locker room. Getting Herb Jones back in the fold allowed for a shift to a supersized starting lineup built around Williamson and Trey Murphy III’s strengths. Derik Queen has been doing what’s comfortable and limiting mistakes, while Saddiq […] The post Pelicans pointing to 7 improvements in new starting five formula appeared first on ClutchPoints .

With the playoffs out of reach and the season’s final chapters being written, Zion Williamson’s roughed-up New Orleans Pelicans are not looking to reinvent the wheel. Interim head coach James Borrego just wants to keep this project on track to show some progress before the 82nd game. Data points matter more than anything for the […] The post Why Pelicans will play ‘as simple as possible’ to close out lost season appeared first on ClutchPoints .

Armed with one of the league’s most potent engines, James Borrego’s busted-up New Orleans Pelicans are undergoing a fundamental and deliberate shift. Zion Williamson’s offensive ceiling has never been in doubt; it’s through the All-NBA roof statistically. However, the problem has been building a sustainable defensive ecosystem around a roster anchored by a high-usage, downhill […] The post Why Pelicans will size up to balance defensive scales around Zion Williamson appeared first on ClutchPoi...