BROOKLYN – As expected, all eyes were on Zion Williamson in his first regular season game in over 17 months. And one of the NBA’s biggest stars delivered the kind of offensive performance we’ve grown used to seeing from him when he’s healthy: 25 points, nine rebounds and tons of paint points.
Instead, Williamson’s night was a small part of a much bigger statement made by the New Orleans Pelicans in their regular-season opener on Wednesday. Williamson was inspired by the Notorious B.I.G. in his return, but it was the Pelicans who kicked in the door and steamrolled the Brooklyn Nets in a 130-108 romping that, frankly, wasn’t as close as the final score indicated.
Zion’s 25-9 line was noteworthy, but he was surpassed by his teammate, Brandon Ingram, who had 28 points, seven rebounds and five assists. CJ McCollum also chipped in 21 points and six assists.
After a preseason filled with nagging injuries, it was the first time the Pelicans’ Big 3 took the floor in a game situation. It looked as if they had been playing together for years.
The Pels’ starting five outscored Brooklyn by 23 points in the 14 minutes they played together. New Orleans racked up 31 assists as a team and poured in 72 second-half points as they pulled away from a Nets squad that struggled to find answers on defense.