Pelicans target next week for Williamson’s debut
Zion Williamson, the top choice in last summer’s NBA draft, is scheduled to make his regular-season debut Jan. 22 when the Pelicans host the the Spurs, Pelicans basketball operations chief David Griffin said Wednesday.
“Everything’s moving in the right direction,” Griffin said. “I really believe very strongly he is a radically improved physical version of himself in way that frankly we took the extra time to ensure.”
Williamson has missed the Pelicans’ first 41 games this season while rehabilitating from arthroscopic surgery to repair the lateral meniscus in his right knee.
The timeline set for the former Duke star’s return calls for Williamson to miss three more games.
Griffin also indicated that Williamson’s minutes will be closely monitored and likely limited for the time being.
The Pelicans have gone 15-26 without Williamson, but have won nine of their last 13 to pull within four games of the final Western Conference playoff spot with half the season left.
Williamson returned to practice Jan. 2 and recently has been seen dunking during Pelicans pre-game warm-up sessions.
But because of the recent frequency of games and travel days, along with having several other players injured, the Pelicans haven’t been able to string many higherintensity, five-on-five practices together.
Williamson played in four preseason games before his injury, averaging 23.3 points and 6.5 rebounds.
Heat improve to 18-1 at home: Rookie Kendrick Nunn scored 33 points on 13-for-18 shooting, Goran Dragic added 17 points and the Heat held on to beat the Spurs 106-100 and move back into the No. 2 spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Heat improved to 18-1 at home, one win shy of matching last season’s home win total.
Layups: Sekou Doumbouya scored a season-high 24 points and the Pistons snapped a three-game skid with a 116-103 win over the host Celtics. Markieff Morris matched his season high with 23 points. The Pistons shot a season-best 60.3% from the field. The Celtics were without secondleading scorer Jayson Tatum, who had knee soreness. But he’s expected to travel with the team for its game against the Bucks on Thursday. ... Tobias Harris scored 34 points, including two big baskets in the final two minutes that proved to be the difference, as the 76ers beat the visiting Nets 117-106. Ben Simmons had 20 points and 11 assists for the 76ers, who improved to 19-2 at home. ... Hawks F Chandler Parsons was involved in a car wreck after practice, sustaining a concussion and whiplash. He will enter the league’s concussion protocol and won’t travel with the team to face the Spurs on Friday.