In a divisional clash, the San Antonio Spurs hosted the New Orleans Pelicans. The game immediately created a showdown between the 2019 #1 draft pick, Zion Williamson, and the 2023 #1 pick, Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs entered the game on a two-game losing streak, having previously triumphed over the Western Conference leaders, the Minnesota Timberwolves. On the contrary, the Pelicans were riding high on two double-digit victories against the Spurs this season.

Wembanyama, shooting at an impressive 50%, amassed 16 points and 14 rebounds. Devin Vessell and Tre Jones contributed 28 and 20 points, respectively. However, their efforts couldn’t match the force of Zion Williamson, who bulldozed his way to a game-high 33 points.

Supported by his starting teammates, Williamson achieved this feat with a remarkable 57% shooting accuracy and opted not to attempt any shots from beyond the arc. Moreover, as the game hung loose with less than 4 seconds, Zion hit a go-ahead bucket, culminating in a thrilling victory.

Intriguingly, Zion found himself listed as questionable on the team’s injury report before the showdown against Wembanyama and the Spurs. Dealing with an ongoing left foot bone contusion, he had already sat out the Pelicans’ previous game against the Houston Rockets. Despite his history of injury-related stints, Zion has managed to avoid missing two consecutive games so far this season.

The win did not come easy for Zion Williamson and Co

Coach Pop and the Spurs, despite a season filled with disappointments, have been approaching their games with a vibrant energy. Straying away from their struggling season record against the Pelicans, they initiated the match with a strong 33-24 lead in the first quarter. Furthermore, they maintained control through the entire first half. As a result, they concluded the mid-way buzzer with a 65-58 lead.

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Thanks to added effort from Jeremy Sochan, the Spurs dominated the boards throughout the game, outscoring the visitors 55-39. However, despite their initial control, the Pelicans initiated multiple runs during the third, ultimately leveling the score for the final stretch behind constant back-and-forth.

While the Pelicans surged in the fourth quarter, the Spurs quickly regained control, with a 3-point lead through the mid-quarter. However, despite a pivotal clutch block by Wembanyama on Zion Williamson, the Spurs faltered by missing four crucial free throws, opening the door for a Zion takeover.

The Spurs, with a record of 10-39, will now remain at home to face the Cleveland Cavaliers. Meanwhile, the Pelicans are set to host the Toronto Raptors at the Smoothie King Center. The two teams will now meet in New Orleans on April 6 for their last leg of the season.

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