Griffin: Pelicans' Zion Williamson Won't Play 'Significant Minutes' vs. Clippers
Jul 31, 2020
New Orleans Pelicans' Zion Williamson, left, shoots over Utah Jazz's Georges Niang during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
New Orleans Pelicansexecutive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin told reporters that superstar rookie forward Zion Williamson will not play "significant minutes" against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.
Per ESPN's Andrew Lopez, Griffin said Williamson may not see a significant workload against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, either.
Williamson was forced to leave the Walt Disney World campus near Orlando, Florida, where the league is holding its 2019-20 season restart amid the COVID-19 pandemic, due to an "urgent family medical matter."
He did not practice or scrimmage with the team from July 16 through July 24, and that time away to ramp up for game action forced the Pels to adjust his game minutes during the restart.
Per Lopez:
"That, according to Griffin, was all part of the plan. Griffin explained that the Pelicans' medical and performance staff had a 'very clear plan' for every player heading into Orlando and that because Williamson spent July 16-24 away from the team because of a family medical emergency and then did his four-day quarantine, the rookie missed crucial time to get ready."
The NBA was suspended for over four months due to the pandemic. Williamson had already missed the first three months of the season with a torn meniscus and was initially placed on a minutes restriction upon his return.
"And every member of the team got to go through that plan," Griffin added. He said:
"That plan included scrimmage minutes that many of the team got to play. Many of our players were held to 15 minutes or 12 minutes or whatever. Not because there is a fixed minutes number, but because there was a fixed approach to how they were going to play the game.
"Everybody got to do that over the course of the scrimmages. Zion didn't get that opportunity. Unfortunately, because of the situation with his family, he was called away. It was a very legitimate reason to leave. But unfortunately, he's 13 days removed from the group in terms of following that plan after not playing basketball for what amounts to four months."
On Thursday, Williamson played 15 minutes and scored 13 points in his team's 106-104 loss to the Utah Jazz.
As Griffin acknowledged, the Pels' plan for Williamson is "detrimental" to the team's goal of making the playoffs. They are in a multiteam race for the eighth and final playoff spot and sit three-and-a-half games behind the Memphis Grizzlies.
However, as Griffin noted, the issue is that Williamson wasn't afforded a proper "ramp-up" opportunity to get ready for NBA games.
"He didn't get the benefit of anything his teammates got for those 13 days," Griffin said. That period includes Williamson's time away from the NBA campus as well as a mandated four-day quarantine upon his return.
Williamson clearly makes the Pels better, and his efforts are needed for his team to make the postseason. However, New Orleans has consistently taken a long-term view when it comes to Williamson's health, and that appears to be the case here with the team transitioning him back to NBA games slowly.
That could hurt the Pels' playoff push, but the team still has seven more games to make up some ground and at least hopes to force a No. 8 vs. No. 9 seed play-in series to determine the final Western Conference playoff spot.
Haynes: Zion Williamson 'Pissed' over Minutes Restriction in Pelicans vs. Jazz
Jul 31, 2020
New Orleans Pelicans' Zion Williamson in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sunday, March 8, 2020, in Minneapolis. The Pelicans won 120-107. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Appearing on The Dan Patrick Show, Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes noted that Williamson was "pissed" about his minutes restriction (starts at 37:24 mark):
After the loss,Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentrytold reporters the decision to limit Williamson's minutes was made by the team's medical staff.
Per The Athletic'sSam Amick, New Orleans' reasoning for holding Williamson back was driven in large part because he had only practiced in five-on-five situations four times, including Tuesday and Wednesday, since the league was shut down on March 11.
"Nah, they weren't holding me back," Williamson said after the game. "Yeah, I did want to be out there but just working my way back into my flow. That's all it is."
There were questions going into the game if Williamson would play after he wasawayfrom the NBA campus in Florida from July 16-24 with an excused absence because of a family emergency.
Williamson wound up starting against the Jazz after officially being listed as a game-time decision. He scored 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting but remained on the bench for the final 7:19 of the game after being replaced by E'Twaun Moore.
The Pelicans were outscored 17-8 in the fourth quarter after Williamson was removed. The loss dropped their record 28-37 overall, four games behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference playoffs.
15 Under-the-Radar Games to Watch During NBA Restart in Orlando
Jul 31, 2020
22 NBA teams will participate in the league's restart in Orlando beginning today.
The NBA is officially back on the court after four-and-a-half months away. The path to the playoffs over the next 15 days features eight "seeding games" per team, all to be played on the bubble campus at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Participating in the restart are nine teams from the East and 13 from the West, with the top eight teams from each conference qualifying for the playoffs—which will play under their normal format. The condensed schedule to close out the regular season means games beginning in the afternoons and playing through the night
We know you're ready for showdowns like Lakers-Clippers and Bucks-Raptors—we don't need to point those out for you. Instead we've chosen to highlight the matchups floating under the radar, the hidden gems of the next two-plus weeks.
Many of the games listed below will be on NBA League Pass, and you can stream them live on B/R Live here. Others will broadcast on national television and are noted accordingly. To view the complete schedule for the NBA's restart in Orlando, go here. And these are the standings heading into the resumption of play.
Note: All tip-off times Eastern
Friday, July 31
Orlando Magic vs. Brooklyn Nets | 2:30 p.m. on NBA League Pass | Stream Here
The first afternoon game of the restart is instantly a crucial one in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Brooklyn has a half-game lead over Orlando for the No. 7 seed, which is some of the most-valuable real estate in the league with the introduction of the play-in series between teams that finish eighth and ninth.
This game will mark Jamal Crawford's 2020 debut, at long last, after the veteran signed with the Nets earlier this month after Brooklyn's roster was decimated by injuries, opt outs and positive coronavirus tests. These teams also play a bookend matchup on Aug. 11 that will likely carry similar playoff implications.
Utah Jazz vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | 3:30 p.m. on ESPN
Remember March 11, 2020? That seems like roughly six years ago. It was that night when the Jazz and Thunder players were on the court, mere minutes from tipoff, when the NBA and the sports world at large turned upside down.
Utah center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus, trainers sprinted on to the floor to alert officials, players stayed at the arena for hours to be tested, and the league suspended the season. Well, almost five months later, this game goes on.
Sunday, Aug. 2
San Antonio Spurs vs. Memphis Grizzlies | 4 p.m. on NBA League Pass | Stream Here
Memphis enters the bubble as the No. 8 seed and will have plenty of competition and work to do in order to hold on to that spot for two weeks.
San Antonio is four games back and has made the playoffs 22 seasons in a row—the longest active streak in North American sports—positioning the Spurs as the team with the most to play for in their eight seeding games. This game juxtaposes the veteran Spurs with the youthful Grizz. If Memphis holds at eight and San Antonio jumps to nine, it would provide a preview to a very intriguing play-in matchup.
Tuesday, Aug. 4
Dallas Mavericks vs. Sacramento Kings | 2:30 p.m. on NBA League Pass | Stream Here
Two young and absolutely joyous teams to watch. The lineup combinations and pace of play will provide high entertainment value. We could legitimately see the Mavs' Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis and Boban Marjanovic on the floor at the same time with the Kings' De'Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield and Bogdan Bogdanovic. Please sign us up.
As for the stakes, Dallas appears safe at the seventh seed and could move up a couple spots with strong performances in the seeding games, while Sacramento has all the motivation to move up from No. 11 to 8 or 9 and break the NBA's longest active playoff drought, currently at 13 seasons.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets | 8 p.m. on NBA League Pass | Stream Here
The Nuggets may well define "under the radar" in the NBA, always hanging out in the top half of the West while headlines go to LA or Houston or (until this season) Golden State.
Denver's challenge will be the transition from being one of the best home-court teams in the league to playing in empty gyms. If Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Paul Millsap can make that adjustment, the Nuggets have a chance to reach the second seed and could be a team no one wants to see. The same could be said about Portland and the always hungry Damian Lillard. The ninth-place Blazers will essentially be in playoff mode from their first game and will need Dame, CJ McCollum and Carmelo Anthony to get hot quickly and stay that way in order to reach the postseason.
Boston Celtics vs. Toronto Raptors | 9 p.m. on TNT
A crucial game for the second seed in the East, which is valuable for this reason: That seed gets a likely first-round matchup with either Orlando or Brooklyn, instead of the 3 vs. 6 series against objectively stronger squads like Philadelphia or Indiana (remember the Sixers took the Raptors to seven games last season).
Toronto begins with the leg up—a three-game lead over Boston—and depending on how both teams play for the first week, the Raptors could use this game to clinch the No. 2 seed. On the other hand, the Celtics could close that gap, put pressure on Toronto and create a real race for that spot.
For Kemba, the playoffs are new. For Boston, they’re routine.
“That’s why I wanted to be here. They do that every year.”
Phoenix Suns vs. Miami Heat | 7:30 p.m. on NBA League Pass | Stream Here
At about the halfway point of seeding games, Phoenix may already be eliminated, barely hanging on to playoff contention or actually very much in it, while Miami, regardless of how it plays, is pretty much set in the 4/5 range in the East, with not a whole lot of room for movement.
As such, this game has the makings of a Devin Booker explosion, along the lines of the 70 points in a game he scored three years ago. There would be nothing better than Booker finding a good scoring rhythm early, Jimmy Butler taking it personally to switch on to him defensively, and the two just going at it for the whole game.
LA Clippers vs. Portland Trail Blazers | 1 p.m. on TNT
We're framing this less as Blazers vs. Clippers and more as Damian Lillard vs. Paul George. OK, we're framing this completely as Dame vs. PG. What if LA eliminates Portland in this game? Will George return the favor? What does he have saved in his drafts? How petty will it get?
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Indiana Pacers | 6 p.m. on TNT
How good are the Pacers, genuinely? Asking for everybody around the NBA. All season we've been impressed with Indiana just rolling steady and collecting wins, even without Victor Oladipo, while at the same time perhaps writing them off as not being able to reach that next tier of teams in his absence.
Well, now he's back, and this game, against the best team in the West and MVP-candidate LeBron James, will be the stick by which to measure the Pacers. The result won't make or break them, but how they play will demonstrate whether a deep run in the East playoffs is achievable.
Indiana did take a big hit when forward Domantas Sabonis was forced to leave the bubble with a left foot injury that could keep him out for the season.
Sunday, Aug. 9
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Toronto Raptors | 2 p.m. on NBA League Pass | Stream Here
A great test for Rookie-of-the-Year front-runner Ja Morant and Memphis against the defending champs. With just a couple games left, it will be crunch time at this point for the playoff-hopeful Grizzlies, so there should be a significant sense of urgency, even if the Raptors have already clinched the second seed.
To focus on a game within the game, Morant's matchup with either or both of Kyle Lowry and Fred Van Vleet will be fun to watch, given that the pair are two of the strongest and most-physical defensive guards in the NBA. They'll give the rookie a taste of the playoff intensity he can expect if Memphis gets there.
Thursday, Aug. 13
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Orlando Magic | TBD p.m. on NBA League Pass | Stream Here
This game brings some of the highest stakes of any interconference matchup during the seeding games. It'll be the final game for both teams, which will be battling for seeds No. 7, 8 and 9 in their respective conferences, and the Pelicans will be competing among five other teams in the crowded West for those spots.
And all of that may still fall to the back burner because this game will feature Zion Williamson and Aaron Gordon on the court at the same time. Think of the dunks. Oh my, the dunks. If both teams are still in contention and those two stars have reached solid game shape, this game could turn into a show.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Utah Jazz | TBD p.m. on NBA League Pass | Stream Here
With every game in the bubble on a neutral court, the importance of playoff seeding shifts from home-court advantage to better matchups. We bring that up here because Utah, currently in the fourth spot, isn't playing solely to hold on to that higher first-round seed; if the Jazz fall to fifth, effectively nothing changes.
So the question at this stage, the second-to-last day of seeding games, will be twofold: How much upward movement opportunity does Utah have left, and how much desire will it have to win in order to move up or simply avoid falling down, based on what each result would determine as the Jazz's first-round opponent?
This is basically a long-winded way of asking: At this point, what is their level of motivation and how long are the starters playing against a Spurs team that will likely need every single win to reach the playoffs and keep its aforementioned streak alive?
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Brooklyn Nets | TBD p.m. on NBA League Pass | Stream Here
Similar to the Booker premise mentioned earlier, this matchup has the potential for a dominant individual performance. Depending on what these teams have or have not clinched, and maybe even more so if they need a win to stay alive, there are multiple candidates to take over and turn this game into their own mixtape.
Given it'll be the last seeding game for both teams, players will have been able to find some good rhythm and be closer to game shape. Lillard could get hot from 3-point range and start launching from anywhere inside half court, while Anthony could go into "Hoodie Melo" mode and, perhaps for no other reason than to prove he still can, pour in a vintage onslaught of buckets. Speaking of something to prove, Crawford, who scored 50 in his final game of the 2019 season, remember, might feel inclined to do so again.
Friday, Aug. 14
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Houston Rockets | TBD p.m. on NBA League Pass | Stream Here
This pair of teams will hope to have a series of questions answered by its last game before the playoffs. For the 76ers: Are they playing like a legit title contender? As the best home team and worst road team (aside from the Wizards) in the bubble, how have they adjusted to the neutral, quiet games? Ben Simmons says his back feels great—is he playing like it? Is Joel Embiid dominating games, why or why not?
For the Rockets: Russell Westbrook traveled to Orlando late after a positive coronavirus test and did not have the same amount of practice time as his teammates—what has his progression on the court looked like? How well are Westbrook and James Harden playing together and complementing each other? Which player(s) is closing out games, how is he doing it and what's his level of success? Does their small 1-5 lineup appear like it will work in the playoffs? Deep runs in the playoffs for both teams hinge on the answers to these questions.
OKC Thunder vs. LA Clippers | TBD p.m. on NBA League Pass | Stream Here
Chris Paul and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander face their old Clippers teammates while Paul George faces his former Thunder squad, more than one year after the blockbuster trade that has somewhat surprisingly benefitted both teams pretty quickly, with LA one of the title favorites and thought-to-be-rebuilding OKC firmly in the playoff picture.
Seedingwise, the Clippers have much more to lose than they can gain before the postseason (they're 5.5 games behind the Lakers, only 1.5 ahead of Denver and 4 ahead of OKC), and you know CP3 would relish the chance to bump them down a spot to make their path to the finals a tad more difficult.
And while an obvious thing to watch for is how George and Kawhi Leonard look together game by game, keep your focus on LA's enormous advantage in the bubble: its depth. As coaches manage minutes while players get back into shape, bench rotations and second units are going to be critical. Enter reigning Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams and runner-up Montrezl Harrell, both of whom left the bubble for family reasons and had to adhere to quarantine procedures upon their return—most notably with Williams set to miss LA's first two games.
But by this end point of the "regular season," both players should be back in the rotation, and their production off the bench could be what sets the Clippers apart from the rest of the top title contenders in the league.
Zion Williamson Can Be as Valuable as the Pelicans Let Him Be
Jul 31, 2020
New Orleans Pelicans' Zion Williamson wears a Black Lives Matter shirt while warming up before the start of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
Following 15 minutes of action on the night the NBA returned from its hiatus, Zion Williamson is at a whopping 580 on the season. Eleven members of the New Orleans Pelicans have logged more time on the floor.
And yet, their season is all about the man who wore "Peace" on the back of his jersey Thursday night.
In those 580 minutes Zion has played, New Orleans is plus-104 (he was actually a minus-16 in the 106-104 loss to the Utah Jazz). In the 2,570 minutes Zion has not played, the Pelicans are minus-159.
In stark contrast to the important message he chose to display above his number, Zion's game is anything but peaceful. He plays with a force few players across the history of the league could generate, and the attention he commands opens things up for his teammates.
That makes a minutes restriction in the eight-game leadup to the postseason much more than an inconvenience.
Following his departure from the "bubble," which put Zion in quarantine protocol up until Wednesday, ESPN's Malika Andrews tweeted shortly before tipoff that the 20-year-old rookie would "play in short bursts" during the re-opener.
Following the loss, Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry revealed there was more to it than that.
"We wish we could have played Zion down the stretch," Gentry said, per ESPN's Andrew Lopez. "But he had used the minutes that had been given to us. That's just the way it is. We weren't going to stick him back out there. Our medical team said we played for us to play him."
That explanation does little more than lead to additional questions.
Is there an injury we don't know about? Is this just a conditioning problem? Was the team not in Zion's digital ear about conditioning throughout the hiatus? How or why did the time off lead to steps back on his timeline?
Perhaps most important: Why not save a few of those 15 minutes for the end of the game?
If there's a hard-and-fast rule limiting Zion to 15 minutes, New Orleans' coaching staff has to spread that out to include the potential for crunch time.
If the Pelicans want to make the playoffs, every one of these games is immensely important. They need to be in ninth place (at worst) and within four games of the eighth seed to force the play-in situation.
The four-games part of that equation isn't a huge deal. Even after Thursday's loss, they're only four back of the Memphis Grizzlies with the league's easiest remaining schedule. The problem is there are now two teams between New Orleans and Memphis, one of which has Damian Lillard and a finally healthy frontcourt. Oh, and the San Antonio Spurs now have one fewer loss.
The battle for ninth will go down to the wire, much like Thursday night's game. The Pelicans needed Zion then, and they'll need him moving forward.
New Orleans may have been outscored in the minutes he played against Utah, but he's been the team's most-impactful player this season. He has to be out there in the big moments.
In his limited action Thursday, he showed next to no rust coming out of quarantine.
He went 6-of-8 from the field and made his only free-throw attempt. On his first bucket, he essentially went through the typically sturdy Royce O'Neale on the way to an off-hand finish in traffic and at close to full speed. He scored on a traditional post move over Georges Niang. He later punished the same defender for fronting him 15 feet from the rim by spinning off him for an alley-oop.
He even showed a little flair with a behind-the-back dime to the guy who is usually found setting him up:
All the physical tools were on vivid display, but the intangible aspects of his game are even more important. Williamson feels the game like a veteran. He knows when to attack and when to defer. His anticipation and exploitation of cutting and driving angles may be as instrumental as his athleticism in generating open looks.
There is still growth on the way for Zion, particularly on the defensive end, but he's more than ready to make a positive impact on a playoff team. If he is held to this minutes restriction for much longer (or if it's managed as it was Thursday), he may not get a chance to do so.
When Zion subbed out for the last time with 7:19 left in the fourth quarter, New Orleans was up 93-89 (giving it a 73.7 percent win probability). Over the rest of the game, Utah center Rudy Gobert had four points, including the game-winning free throws, and four rebounds. New Orleans' big men combined for zero points and two rebounds in that stretch.
Regardless of whether the Pelicans are able to ramp Zion's minutes up soon, they can't allow themselves to be put in this position again.
This season is about the rookie with superstar potential on the floor and a desire for peace off it. And that's especially true for each of the next seven games.
NBA's Top Stats, Best Highlights, Updated Playoff Picture from July 30 Results
Jul 31, 2020
Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) talks with Los Angeles Clippers' Kawhi Leonard (2) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images via AP, Pool)
The NBA made its long-anticipated return Thursday night, showcasing Western Conference powerhouses over two contests as an appetizer of what's to come from the bubble in Orlando, Florida.
Stars like Zion Williamson and LeBron James made sure the spectacle met expectations.
Williamson's New Orleans Pelicans couldn't outlast the Utah Jazz in the opener but made it a thriller. James' Los Angeles Lakers won the battle of L.A. against the Clippers.
Here's a look at some of the best stats, highlights and playoff fallout from opening night.
The break and unusual circumstances surrounding a quick sprint to the postseason didn't stop the biggest stars from shining brightest Thursday night—and from the first game offering up a near-overtime affair.
In the opener, Jazz guard Mike Conley was his typical field-general self, shooting 7-of-16 from the floor with 20 points and four assists. Flanked by a team-high 23 points off the bench from Jordan Clarkson, Utah wasn't hurting with Donovan Mitchell checking in at 20 points of his own.
But it was the upstart Pelicans that appeared to have control early, storming to a 60-48 halftime lead and holding it late into the contest.
Part of it was a wickedly efficient performance from a former No. 1 pick. Williamson, whose participation was in question as a game-time decision, wound up playing just 15 minutes, but he was monstrously effective again, shooting 6-of-8 from the floor with 13 points while putting up some highlights:
Brandon Ingram paced all scorers by tying for the game-high with 23 points on 7-of-20 shooting, but a late three-point attempt rattled out and let the Jazz squeak out the win.
Somewhat poetically, it was Jazz center Rudy Gobert (14 points, 12 rebounds) who scored the first and last points of the contest:
Gobert sinks the game-winning free throws in the first game of the restart.
Gobert's clutch act helped the Jazz move to 42-23 and 1-0 during the quick restart, positioning them fourth in the Western Conference and in range of the 43-win Denver Nuggets.
After the near-scare, things don't get any easier for Utah with a Saturday date against the fifth-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. While competitive, New Orleans sits 11th in the conference and four games back of the eighth seed.
Before the opener, all players, coaches and referees knelt during the national anthem:
Every player, coach and ref takes a knee during the national anthem before the Pelicans-Jazz game https://t.co/LZy1A6s8VM
The Clippers started the third on a 14-1 run only to get counteracted by a run from Davis that included a pair of back-to-back conversions from deep to make up a chunk of his game-high 34 points:
With James only sitting on 16 points, it was an unexpected 16 points from Kyle Kuzma off the bench to thwart outings of 28 and 30 points for Leonard and George, respectively, but not before a one-two sequence from George and James that will go down as the marquee moments of the reopening efforts in Orlando:
The Lakers remain in first atop the Western Conference at 50-14 and 1-0 during the restart, with the Clippers the next-closest team at 44-21. Leonard's team needs to have eyes behind more than ahead at this point with the 43-win Nuggets in the fray and the Jazz not far off.
LeBron gets a shot at the Toronto Raptors next on Saturday before a one-two punch against Utah and Oklahoma City the following week that could decide much about the standings below the Lakers. The Clippers, meanwhile, get Zion and the Pelicans on Saturday.
Pelicans' Zion Williamson: Minutes Limit at Restart Not Just Conditioning Issue
Jul 30, 2020
New Orleans Pelicans' Zion Williamson wears a Black Lives Matter shirt while warming up before the start of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson, who left the NBA's bubble in Orlando, Florida, last week for a family emergency and had to clear quarantine upon his return, played just 15 minutes in Thursday's 106-104 loss to the Utah Jazz.
"It's not even just conditioning. It's just getting my flow to the game back," he said postgame of his limited playing time, per ESPN's Andrew Lopez. "This is the NBA, this is the best players in the world, and you want to feel comfortable. I don't want to hurt my team more than I helped them in a sense, if you understand me."
Pelicans’ Zion Williamson, kept to 15 minutes in bubble opener, said he hasn’t suffered any medical setbacks & added that sitting during crunch time isn’t solely due to conditioning. “It’s just getting my flow to the game back... I don’t want to hurt my team more than I helped.” pic.twitter.com/uK7FROHrW7
ESPN's Rachel Nichols passed along quotes from both Williamson and Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry in which the forward expressed some frustration and the coach suggested there was a minutes restriction:
Zion is asked about the Pelicans: "They weren't holding me back. Yeah, I wanted to be out there; but was just working my way back into my flow. That's all it is......It is frustrating, but it's not so frustrating because I could easily - they could probably not even let me play."
New Orleans blew a 16-point advantage, and the Jazz took the lead for good on Rudy Gobert's two free throws with 6.9 seconds remaining. Brandon Ingram had an opportunity to win it at the other end, but his three-pointer rimmed out at the buzzer.
Williamson was on the sidelines for the closing stretch after checking out with more than seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. He impressed in his limited action and scored 13 points while finishing multiple lobs from his teammates.
It is encouraging for New Orleans that Williamson played well with the team in a fight for a playoff spot with just seven seeding games remaining.
The Pelicans are four games behind the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies and a half-game behind the Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings in the key race for the No. 9 seed. If the No. 9 seed is within four games of the No. 8 seed following the eight seeding games, the teams will face off in a play-in tournament for the final playoff spot.
New Orleans may have the highest ceiling in that group. Williamson soars for dunks, Ingram creates scoring opportunities as a go-to option, Jrue Holiday and JJ Redick provide veteran leadership, and Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart are key contributors.
Things won't get easier for the Pelicans when they face the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, but Williamson will likely see more time as he builds his way toward being a more integral part of the rotation in these important contests.
Rudy Gobert's FTs Lead Jazz Past Zion Williamson, Pelicans in Restart Opener
Jul 30, 2020
Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert (27) heads to the basket past New Orleans Pelicans' Brandon Ingram, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
Rudy Gobert knocked down two free throws with 6.9 seconds remaining as the Utah Jazz defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 106-104 in the first regular-season game of the NBA's 2019-20 restart at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida.
Gobert sinks the game-winning free throws in the first game of the restart.
Pels forward Brandon Ingram had a good look from three-point range as time wound down, but the ball rattled in and out.
Jordan Clarkson led the Jazz with 23 points off the bench, and Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell each had 20. Ingram guided the Pels with 23 points.
Pels superstar rookie Zion Williamson scored 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting in just 15 minutes as he works his way back into game shape.
Williamson left the NBA's campus July 16 for what the team termed an "urgent family medical matter." He returned last Friday but had to go into a four-day quarantine amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Williamson was free to leave quarantine before Thursday's game, although Pels head coach Alvin Gentry said pregame that he planned to play the star in "short bursts" as he and the rest of the league come back following four-and-a-half months off the court.
Prior to the game, all players, coaches and referees knelt during the national anthem, and players wore Black Lives Matter shirts:
Every player, coach and ref takes a knee during the national anthem before the Pelicans-Jazz game https://t.co/LZy1A6s8VM
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said, "I respect our teams' unified act of peaceful protest for social justice and under these unique circumstances will not enforce our long-standing rule requiring standing during the playing of our national anthem," per Leah Asmelash and Jill Martin of CNN.com.
The 42-23 Jazz are fourth in the Western Conference. The 28-37 Pels fell to 11th, four games behind the eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies for the final Western Conference playoff spot.
But the Jazz defense took over the game, holding the high-flying and scoring Pels to just 17 points in the final 12 minutes.
New Orleans went four minutes and five seconds without scoring a field goal midway through the fourth, allowing the Jazz to take a 98-97 lead following a Mitchell two-pointer.
The Jazz never trailed the rest of the way, though the Pels tied the game twice, once on a Redick three-pointer and again on a pair of Ingram free throws.
The latter points tied the game at 104, and it looked as though New Orleans might have the last shot after Conley missed a layup with 19.7 seconds left. However, Conley rebounded his own miss, and 10 seconds later, Mitchell found an open Gobert, who was hacked by Derrick Favors as he went to the hole. The big man did his job at the line, but the Pels nearly pulled it off after Ingram created enough space for a quality look with time running down.
The shot was no good, though, and Utah escaped with the win.
Zion Dominates in Limited Action
Williamson made a clear imprint on the game in just 15 minutes. He showed zero signs of rust despite not playing an NBA game since March, as well as leaving the NBA campus and missing practices and scrimmage because of an urgent family matter.
Williamson played bully ball down low as usual, muscling his way into the paint for easy buckets:
The Pelicans may have lost, but the future still looks bright with Williamson in the mix. Presumably, he'll receive more playing time as New Orleans advances through the remainder of its eight games. The Pels will need everything they can get from Williamson as they fight for a playoff berth.
What's Next?
Both teams will play Saturday.
The Jazz take on the Oklahoma City Thunder at 3:30 p.m. ET, and the Pels face the Los Angeles Clippers at 6 p.m.
Zion Williamson Active for Pelicans' Restart Opener vs. Jazz After Bubble Exit
Jul 30, 2020
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) dunks against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
The rookie had missed over a week of practice after leaving the bubble because of a family emergency. He returned last Friday and cleared quarantine Tuesday before returning to his team for practice.
Head coach Alvin Gentry had said Wednesday that Williamson would be a game-time decision, but he apparently showed enough to be part of the active roster.
Though the forward had practiced the last two days, he missed each of the team's three exhibition games in Orlando, which created concern about his availability.
"I was gone for seven or eight days with an urgent family matter," Williamson said. "Then, I had to sit in a room for four days. The NBA isn't something you can usually just straight into, especially off of stuff like that. So, I think me and my team are gonna look to see what’s best and [see] if I'm ready to go out there."
Even if he is less than 100 percent, the 20-year-old can be a difference-maker.
After missing the start of the season because of a knee injury, Williamson exploded onto the scene with an average of 23.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in 19 appearances.
The 2020 No. 1 draft pick entered the league with lofty expectations after an impressive freshman season at Duke, but he has lived up to the hype so far in the NBA.
Playing in the first game will be huge to help New Orleans compete for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Pelicans are currently sitting 3.5 games behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the No. 8 seed.
NBA Preview for July 30: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Daily Fantasy Picks, Odds
Jul 30, 2020
Los Angeles Clippers' Kawhi Leonard, right, shoots against Golden State Warriors' Eric Paschall (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 10, 2020, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
The NBA wasted no time getting its superstars on the court for its return inside the Orlando, Florida bubble.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers face off for the fourth time this season in the marquee matchup of Thursday's two-game slate.
New Orleans' quest for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference kicks off the doubleheader. The Pelicans face the Utah Jazz, who are in their own playoff race for the No. 3 seed with the Denver Nuggets.
The full complement of superstars could be on the floor if Zion Williamson is cleared to play. The 20-year-old is a game-time decision, per ESPN.com's Andrew Lopez.
And Anthony Davis is planning to play for the Lakers despite an eye injury, per ESPN.com's Tim Bontemps.
While most of the focus will be on the big names in each squad, there are a few others worth keeping an eye, especially for daily fantasy lineups.
Utah at New Orleans (-2.5) (Over/Under: 225) (6:30 p.m., TNT)
Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers (-4) (O/U: 216) (9 p.m., TNT)
Games can be live-streamed on TNTDrama.com.
Daily Fantasy Picks
Kawhi Leonard, SF, Los Angeles Clippers
Kawhi Leonard should be the star chosen most as the cornerstone of lineups.
The Clippers forward totaled 92 points in three meetings with the Lakers, and he hit the 30-point mark in two of those games. Twenty-four of those points also came from beyond the arc, including a 5-for-7 three-point mark in a Christmas Day victory.
Leonard's play against the Lakers and consistency in the scoring column should make him worth whatever price you get him at. He reached 20 points in all but nine of his 51 appearances.
The 29-year-old is also capable of putting up high numbers in other stat categories, as he has 13 double-doubles and a triple-double this season.
While he should have decent rebound and assist totals, the main draw to Leonard is as a scorer who can be an anchor to any lineup.
Brandon Ingram, SF, New Orleans
Even if Williamson is ready to go Thursday, he won't be the best DFS option on the New Orleans roster.
Brandon Ingram is a more valuable option after recording his highest point total of the season against Utah.
The 22-year-old racked up 117 points in three meetings with the Jazz, including a 49-point performance in 138-132 win January 16. In the trio of games, he produced at least five assists and knocked down 10 three-point shots.
If you stack Ingram and Leonard at small forward, you will have to find some value plays for the rest of the lineup, but combining them will be well worth it given their previous form against Thursday's opponents.
Jordan Clarkson, PG/SG, Utah
If you choose to go with Leonard and Ingram, Jordan Clarkson is one of the second-tier players you could benefit most from.
The 28-year-old reached double digits off the bench in two meetings with the Pelicans in January, and after the second game, he put up 20 points on eight occasions.
Clarkson should be the first player off the bench to spell Utah's guards, and he could remain in for long stretches since he played over 20 minutes in 53 contests.
In Utah's final scrimmage in Orlando, he put up 12 points, five rebounds, one steal and knocked down a trio of three-point shots. If he produces at a similar rate, Clarkson may outplay his value and be utilized in contests throughout the eight seeding games.
Pelicans' Zion Williamson to Wear 'Peace' on Jersey at NBA Restart
Jul 29, 2020
FILE - In this March 6, 2020, file photo, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson walks onto the court during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat in New Orleans. The rookie sensation’s availability to play remained unclear as the season’s resumption in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, approached. He left the NBA’s so-called “bubble” setup on July 16 to attend to an unspecified family medical matter. A week later, the club had yet to provide an update on his possible return. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza, File)
Zion Williamson will be bringing "peace" to the floor when the NBA returns Thursday night.
The New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson will wear "Peace" on the back of his uniform as part of the league's social justice initiative. The rookie is considered a game-time decision to play that night, according to head coach Alvin Gentry.
Zion Williamson will wear “Peace” on the back of his jersey, according to a NBA list.
Players have the option of wearing a social justice slogan on the back of their uniforms in place of their names for the first four days of the NBA restart in Orlando, Florida. After the first four days, players can continue with the social justice slogans, but their names will be placed under their number.
The vast majority of players have chosen to represent a social justice cause on their uniforms during at least the initial allotted time.
Malika Andrewsof ESPN reported players on the Pelicans and Utah Jazz are planning a collaborative protest ahead of their game at 6:30 p.m. ET Thursday, the first of the NBA restart. Williamson has been quarantined since Tuesday after leaving the bubble for a family emergency.
