Williamson rejoining Pelicans at pivotal time

Zion Williamson is ready to go. The highly anticipated NBA debut of the No. 1 overall pick is scheduled to occur tonight when Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans host the San Antonio Spurs.

The 6-foot-6 forward had arthroscopic knee surgery just before the start of the season and was expected to miss six to eight weeks. He will make his debut 13 weeks and two days after surgery, as the Pelicans were extremely cautious in making sure he was ready to go.

“It’s finally here,” a smiling Williamson said after practice Tuesday. “I love playing basketball. I’m going to go out there, have fun and compete. It’s basketball. It’s what I do. I’ve done it since I was 4.”

The Pelicans are eager to see what kind of impact the rookie will have on a team that seems to be finding itself after enduring a 13-game losing streak earlier in the season. They have won 11 of 16 since the losing streak, including a 126116 victory at Memphis on Monday.

CLIPPERS EDGE MAVERICKS » Kawhi Leonard scored 36 points, and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Dallas Mavericks 110-107 for their fourth straight win. Dallas ended a four-game winning streak but lost a key piece in center Dwight Powell just as they welcomed back Kristaps Porzingis.

Porzingis scored 10 points on 4-for-17 shooting in his return after missing 10 games with right knee soreness. Late in the first quarter, Powell went down on a non-contact play with a right Achilles tendon injury.