New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson had a standout performance against the LA Clippers, scoring 34 points in a significant win. He also took on the defensive matchup against Kawhi Leonard, reportedly requesting the assignment after his teammate Trey Murphy initially volunteered for it.
Murphy shared with reporters after the game, “At the end of the game I was like, ‘I got Kawhi.’ And [Williamson] was like, ‘Nah, I got him.’ I was like ‘Hey man, you got it then. I’m not gonna fight you on that one.’ That’s what you want out of your stars. You want them to take on the challenge. He understands what time it is.”
Murphy emphasized the importance of playing both offense and defense to become a playoff star, a challenge that Williamson is embracing at this stage of the season. Williamson’s performance on Friday night was impressive, particularly in the second half when he took control of the game.
The win brought the Pelicans within two games of the Clippers in the Western Conference standings and also secured the tiebreaker. This sets up a likely first-round matchup between LA and New Orleans in the 4th vs. 5th seed battle.
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