New Orleans Pelicans Player Grades in 138-117 Win Over Portland

Forwards

Zion Williamson:  A+

The Pelicans star rookie was everything he’s been advertised, dominating the paint, getting to the rim at will and throwing down a few impressive dunks. Zion ended the night with a career-high 31 points, but also added nine rebounds, five assists and a steal. Williamson finished with a team-high +25 plus/minus and the Pelicans were generally unstoppable when he was on the floor. Maybe the most impressive part of his night was the offensive boards. He grabbed six, most off his own misses, and often looked unstoppable once he got into the lane. Williamson didn’t miss many, shooting 10-17 overall, but when he did, he was often able to grab the board. The Pelicans are clearly a different team with Williamson in the lineup, so keeping him healthy is paramount. He was limping a bit throughout the game, which is something I am sure the Pelicans’ staff will monitor closely.

Nicolo Melli: B-

Melli had a poor night shooting, hitting just two of his eight three-point attempts. The Trail Blazers were clearly sagging off Melli to protect the lane against Williamson, which left Melli open for long attempts. Though he shot poorly, Melli played decent defense against Hassan Whiteside and ended the game with nine rebounds, three assists and a block. Melli wasn’t spectacular, but he was solid, especially alongside Williamson.