LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Zion Williamson drove for the game-winning layup in the waning seconds Friday, lifting the New Orleans Pelicans to a 114-113 National Basketball Association victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
Williamson finished with 33 points and eight rebounds, connecting on 12 of his 21 shots from the field. His dunk with 28.5 seconds remaining pulled the Pelicans within one and with 3.8 seconds left, he powered through the Spurs defense for the game-winner.
Devin Vassell scored 28 points for San Antonio but missed a three-pointer at the final buzzer.
Sensational Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama added 16 points and 14 rebounds for San Antonio, whose 18 turnovers were twice as many as the Pelicans.
“I live for stuff like this,” Williamson, the top pick in the 2019 draft, said after the teams traded the lead five times in the fourth quarter.
“Playing in games like this is a lot of fun.”
The dominant performance from the two-time All-Star came a day after he failed to gain a nod for this year’s All-Star game when the 14 reserves for the mid-season showcase were announced on Thursday.
