| |
|
NBA -- Zion sizzles at the United Center
By Ricardo Carbajal PhilBoxing.com Sat, 08 Feb 2020

CHICAGO -- Rookie sensation Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans told reporters that he was in awe playing in the house Michael Jordan built.
"I wondered what it was like when Jordan was playing here. Six Finals, 6-0, That had to be special," said the 6-foot-7, 284-pound power forward who has taken the NBA by storm since leaving Duke University for the NBA last summer.
The jury is still out whether Williamson can match Jordan's number of championships won, but there is no doubt about his star power.
In a season where attendance has dropped at the United Center, the arena drew a crowd of 20,917 for the Pelicans' lone annual visit, just 13 percent short of capacity. And there was visceral excitement when the 19-year old kid was on the floor.
As the spotlight shined brightly, Williamson, like the great always ones do, came through. He shot 9-of-11 from the field and scored 21 points to lead the Pelicans over the Bulls, 125-119, on Thursday night (Friday morning RP time). He also had four rebounds and played only 25 minutes as he continues to be under a minutes restriction following arthroscopic knee surgery that sidelined him for an extended period of time.
The Pelicans converted a high 56.3 percent of their shots (49-of-87) while drilling 16 of 38 from beyond the 3-point arc (42.1 percent).
With a 21-31 won-lost record New Orleans still has a puncher's chance of making the playoffs in the Western Conference. They trail the eighth place Memphis Grizzlies (26-25) by 5.5 games with still 30 games to go in their 82-game schedule.
The Bulls, got 22 points from Zach LaVine, but it wasn't enough to extend their losing streak to four.
"What we're lacking is kind of an energy and spirit about our team, and we need to get that back," head coach Jim Boylen said after his team dropped to a 19-34 slate.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ricardo Carbajal.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Undefeated Carl Jammes Martin Plots Next Move as New Year Unfolds , Mon, 29 Dec 2025Alvin Gayeta Roma leads Mansa Engineering Consultancy Team B to rule New York Chess Academy Team Tournament; pockets P100,000 By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 29 Dec 2025Llover, Casimero stop foes in Japan By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 28 Dec 2025Organizing Committee Meets for Dr. Eugene Torre Rapid Chess Tournament Honoring FIL-CHI’s Golden Anniversary , Sun, 28 Dec 2025KEYSHAWN DAVIS RETURNS ON THE RING 6 UNDERCARD AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN , Sun, 28 Dec 2025IM Datu captures 4th IIEE Chess SIKAT, Jeremy Marticio repeat champ for 5th mini-tournament By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 27 Dec 2025THE RING 6: NIGHT OF THE SAMURAI WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS INOUE AND PICASSO CLASH IN RIYADH , Fri, 26 Dec 2025THE RING 6: NIGHT OF THE SAMURAI PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES , Fri, 26 Dec 2025THE RING 6: NIGHT OF THE SAMURAI OPEN WORKOUTS COMPLETE AS UNDISPUTED KING INOUE GETS READY FOR PICASSO CLASH IN RIYADH , Thu, 25 Dec 20253-Time, 2-Division World Champion & IBF No. 1, Mandatory Bantamweight World Title Challenger Miyo Yoshida long overdue for her 8th World title fight , Thu, 25 Dec 2025Game On! 1st Paower Pickleball Cup Ignites Action in San Fernando By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 25 Dec 2025Late Replacement Tellez Ready to Shock the World Against Amanda Serrano for WBA & WBO Featherweight Titles on January 3 in Puerto Rico , Wed, 24 Dec 2025The Pryce is right again! , Wed, 24 Dec 2025Postal Stamp Honoring Muhammad Ali will be present in January 15 By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 24 Dec 2025O’REILLY AUTO PARTS SIGNS LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP DEAL WITH MATCHROOM BOXING , Wed, 24 Dec 2025Isabela Chess University Wins Region 2 Chess League Title By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 24 Dec 2025Cristobal stops Beltran in the 6th round By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 23 Dec 2025VENUE/DATE CHANGE: Shinard Bunch Takes on John Paul Magalong on THURSDAY, JANUARY 15TH AT THE WAR MEMORIAL IN TRENTON , Tue, 23 Dec 2025Raquinel suffers 2nd setback in SA By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 23 Dec 2025Oakland Municipal Auditorium: Sacred Hall Where Filipino Boxing World Champions Were Crowned By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 23 Dec 2025IBA confirms Men’s World Boxing Championships results , Tue, 23 Dec 2025Jordan Launches Pro Boxing Scene Appointing Amer Abdallah as Advisor , Tue, 23 Dec 2025Fisher and Atencio Crowned Jax Mixed Doubles Open Champions , Sun, 21 Dec 2025Jake Paul Undergoes Surgery for Broken Jaw Following Knockout Loss to Anthony Joshua By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 21 Dec 2025Anthony Joshua Drops Jake Paul 4 Times En Route to a 6th Round Stoppage By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 20 Dec 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|