Zion Williamson said it was just "another day at the office" after returning from a long injury lay-off with 22 points in the New Orleans Pelicans' defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves. (More NBA News)
Williamson had missed 27 gam𓆉es due to a hamstring strain he suffered in early November, in a 131-122 defeat to the high-flying Cleveland Cavaliers.
He returned at Smoothie King Center on Tuesday and produced an impressive display despite being limited to 28 minutes on the cour🥃t, adding six rebounds and four assists to his fourth 20-point haul of the🐻 season.
He was unable to inspire the Pels to victory, though, as they slipped to 7-30 and 5-15 at home, having entered the game on ꧙the back of successive victories.
One standout moment saw William♓son💃 sink a brilliant breakaway dunk that involved him rotating 360 degrees while in the air.
Asked about that moment, the two-tim🥀e All-Star declared: "It's just another day at the office."
"I definꦇitely feel like my legs are 🥃already under me," Williamson said.
"The focus I had during this rehab w🍨as a bit more extreme. I fe🔜el like I didn't even miss a beat, but gained a beat."
"💦It's incredible, his abilityඣ to impact the basketball game when he's on the floor," Pelicans coach Willie Green said.
"He had a little 𝄹bit of rust, but that's as good as I've seen him after being out for as long as he's been. It's a credit🃏 to Zion, the work that he's been putting in."
Green added that Williamson was playing under a minu🐽tes restriction anꦫd that he was excited to see more of him playing alongside Dejounte Murray, who contributed a team-high 29 points.
"That was a fun segment," Green said of the duo's first experience on the court together. "That's a ♏small sample size of what this team is capable🥂 of."
New Orleans, who lost 11 straight games before reeling off back-to-back victories over the Washington Wizards prior to Tuesday's game, are back in action at home to the Portla⭕nd Trail Blazers on Wednesday.
