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Zion Williamson ducked and smiled as celebrating New Orleans Pelicans teammates poured bottles of water over him. Moments later, Trey Muprhy III pretended to place a crown on Williamson’s head — a fitting gesture after a memorable game which, by the end, had coronation-type energy about it.
The 22-year-old Williamson scored a career-high 43 points, capping it with New Orleans’ final 14 points in the last 2:44 of the game, and the Pelicans outlasted the Minnesota Timberwolves 119-118 on Wednesday night for their fourth straight victory.
“People remember winners,” the 22-year-old Williamson said. “When you look at some of the greatest of all time, the first thing you go to is championships, what they did in big moments. And that’s what I want to be remembered as — a winner.
“I can’t just sit here and say I want to win. I’ve got to show it,” added Williamson, who also credited teammate CJ McCollum for urging him on in the final minutes.
“CJ looked at me and said, ‘You want to be great, this is the moment to do it.’”
Anthony Edwards, who scored 27 for Minnesota, missed a baseline fade for the win as time expired on a game in which the Wolves led most of the way, and by as many as 11 points, before losing their fourth straight.
Minnesota coach Chris Finch lamented his team’s defense on Williamson in the second half that was “way too soft.
