Williamson dominates, scores 31 in Pelicans win
Zion Williamson scored a season-high 31 points, and the Pelicans used a dominant second half to defeat the Trail Blazers 138-117 on Tuesday night in New Orleans.
Playing 28 minutes in just his ninth NBA game, Williamson used his 6-foot-6, 285pound frame, quick feet and explosive vertical to have his way with every defender the Blazers tried against him. Williamson was either too strong, too fast, or both. He mixed spinning dribbles and sudden baseline drives into his usual arsenal of soaring transition dunks and tenacious putbacks.
JJ Redick scored 20 and Josh Hart had 17 points for the Pelicans, who trailed by as many as 16 in the first quarter before taking command en route to a third straight victory.
Jrue Holiday contributed 16 points and 10 assists, while Lonzo Ball added 10 points and 10 assists.
76ers stay strong at home: Ben Simmons had 26 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, and the 76ers beat the Clippers 110-103 on Tuesday night in Philadelphia.
Joel Embiid also scored 26 points and Tobias Harris added 17 points and 12 boards for the 76ers, who have the NBA’s best home record at 25-2.
Doncic ‘ready’ to return: Mavericks All-Star guard Luka Doncic plans to play in Wednesday’s home game against the Kings after missing the last seven games with a sprained right ankle.
“I’m ready,” last season’s rookie of the year said Tuesday. “I’m just excited to be back out there and play basketball.”
Also, the Mavericks added veteran Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to their young core they close in on the franchise’s first trip to the playoffs in four years.
Kidd-Gilchrist, the No. 2 pick in the 2012 draft, signed with the Mavericks after taking a buyout from the Hornets. The Mavericks waived Ryan Broekhoff to make room for Kidd-Gilchrist.
After playing in just 12 games with the Hornets this season, Kidd-Gilchrist, 26, has career averages of 8.6 points and 5.5 rebounds.
Layups: LaMarcus Aldridge had 25 points and 14 rebounds, and the Spurs stopped a five-game slide by topping the host Thunder 114-106. Dejounte Murray also scored 25 points for the Spurs, who had dropped eight of 10 overall. ... The Kings announced that center Richaun Holmes received a platelet-rich plasma injection Monday to treat a labral tear in his right shoulder that he suffered Jan. 6. The Kings had previously described the tear only as “an injury to the right shoulder joint.” Holmes, 26, who’s averaging career highs of 13.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots, will resume rehabilitation and will gradually progress to controlled basketball activities.