Zion Williamson Shows Off Freakish Athleticism With Buzzer Beater in Statement Win vs. Clippers
Zion Williamson has had a successful season, both staying healthy and helping lead the New Orleans Pelicans to a 40–26 record. While it feels like Williamson’s athletic abilities haven’t been on display as much as in the past, he was able to show off his size, speed and skill on Friday night.
With 3.5 seconds left in the third quarter vs. the Los Angeles Clippers, Williamson got the ball on one end of the court and took it directly to the other end for a layup. In the process, he showed off why he was such a highly rated prospect coming out of Duke and how his combination of athleticism and skill is still among the best in the league.
Full court in 3.5 seconds?
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 16, 2024
More than enough time for Zion Williamson. pic.twitter.com/b8G1LSPq8k
The Pelicans ultimately won the crucial game against the Clippers 112–104, allowing New Orleans to get within two games of Los Angeles for the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. The win also clinches the season series for the Pelicans against the Clippers, which is key in case a tiebreaker is needed at the end of the season.
Williamson, who finished with 34 points on 14 of 21 shooting, has now played in 55 games on the season, which is seven games away from breaking his career high. The 23-year-old is averaging 22.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game while totaling just under 31 minutes each contest.