NBA rookie sensation Zion Williamson scored a career-best of 31 points as Western Conference New Orlean Pelicans beat Portland Trail Blazers 138 – 117.
Jrue ⬆️
Zion 💪#WontBowDown pic.twitter.com/t8KKTrDRic
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) February 12, 2020
In what was a spectacular comeback at the Smoothie King Center, the Trail Blazers took the lead in the opening quarter if the game setting a 9 point gap between them and New Orleans Pelicans at the end of the first leading 27-36.
The Pelicans were able to close the gap to just only 2 points by half time as they managed to scored 36 points in the second quarter against the Trail Blazers 29.
Zion Williamson is the 3rd player with seven 20-point games in his first 10 career games over the last 30 seasons. He joins Grant Hill and Shaquille O’Neal (also 7).
He is the only player in that span to record seven 20-point games in his first 9 career games. pic.twitter.com/VUhyp56ebP
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 12, 2020
The Pelicans then turned the game on it head as they came out to score 41 points in the third quarter against the Trail Blazers’ 21.
Portland were unable to recover from this and close the gap as the Pelicans also won the final quarter eventually winning the game 138-117.
NBA rookie Zion Williamson who missed the previous game for the Pelicans was able to score a career-high of 31 points 9 rebounds and 5 assists.
Zion’s first step. Too quick. pic.twitter.com/5h00KT3lCt
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 12, 2020
HE was followed by JJ Redick who scored 20 points with 2 rebounds and 2 assists on the night. Although Brandon Ingram did not make an appearance on the court due to a sprained ankle, the Pelicans were able to band together and come out with their third straight victory.
Damian Lillard led the scoresheet for the Trail Blazers with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. CJ McCollum also managed 20 points with 1 rebound and 3 assists.
The Pelicans are at 11th position on the Western Conference table going 23-31 with the New Orleans Trail Blazers high up at ninth position with 25-30.
Zion Williamson definitely made an impact in this game going on to show why he was the NBA number one draft pick as the Trail Blazers failed to shut him down.