Zion Williamson resumed his assault on backboards and basketball gamers, leaving each at the mercy of his expertise and power.
“It’s like he didn’t miss a beat,” New Orleans coach Willie Inexperienced mentioned. “You simply throw the ball to him and watch what he does.”
Williamson returned from a one-year absence with 25 factors and 9 rebounds, powering the Pelicans to a season-opening 130-108 rout of the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday evening.
Ben Simmons additionally returned to motion after a missed season however had the misfortune of getting to cowl Williamson for a lot of the temporary time he was within the recreation.
He fouled out early in the fourth quarter with 4 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, taking three Shots.
Brandon Ingram scored 28 factors and CJ McCollum had 21 for the Pelicans, who completed a robust final season and opened impressively on this one.
Jonas Valanciunas had 15 factors and 13 rebounds and New Orleans outrebounded Brooklyn 61-39.
Kevin Durant scored 32 factors but was largely a one-man show, with no different Nets participating in double figures till the ultimate two minutes of the third quarter.
Patty Mills had 16 factors and Irving managed 15 on 6-for-19 taking pictures, going 0 for six from 3-point vary.
It was already 7-0 earlier than Simmons made the primary basket of Brooklyn's season.
The Pelicans raced to a 20-4 lead and Williamson's layup made it 32-14 after one.
It was 58-50 on the half earlier than Ingram scored 12 factors and Williamson added 11 on 5-for-6 taking shots in a 40-point third because the lead grew to 26 earlier than the Pelicans took a 98-78 result in the fourth.