Zion Williamson had a historic night for the Pelicans in the team’s 101-94 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday. Williamson finished with 37 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, flirting with the first triple-double of his career.
Friday’s game featured a large amount of Williamson playing the point guard position, helping the Pelicans through their current rash of injuries in the backcourt. Williamson controlled the game, initiating much of the offense and attacking the rim relentlessly, helping the Pelicans outscore the Sixers 66-34 in the paint, the worst paint point differential for the Sixers when Joel Embiid has played a game in his career.
Lonzo Ball was among the guards sidelined for the Pelicans as he missed the game with a left hip flexor strain. Ball was on the bench for the game and quickly made his thoughts on Williamson’s performance known after the game on Twitter.
Zion is DIFFERENT‼️ #ImaFan 🤣
— Lonzo Ball (@ZO2_) April 10, 2021
these two 💪 💪 pic.twitter.com/tJz5zKYQEj
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) April 10, 2021
Williamson’s line of 37 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists is one that’s only been accomplished once in Pelicans franchise history, that being done by DeMarcus Cousins in the 2017-18 season. Williamson is by far the youngest to achieve that line at 20 years, 277 days, over a full year younger than the next closest in Oscar Robertson.
