The New Orleans Pelicans got a big win over a shorthanded Dallas team behind another spectacular effort from Zion Williamson.
The Pelicans are now just 3.5 games behind the Mavericks for the 8th playoff spot are are right in the thick of the hunt for the play-in game.
This is one of the toughest stretches of the season for the Pels and the schedule gets much easier, so if they can weather this they still have a fighting chance at the playoffs.
It took a big 4th quarter (specifically the last four minutes of it) for the Pels to pull this one off even though the Mavericks were missing both Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis.
Could this be the win that finally gets the Pelicans going? Here are three takeaways.
New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson is exceeding expectations
Zion Williamson came into the NBA with more hype than anyone since LeBron James and he is somehow managing to exceed it.
Ever since Stan Van Gundy gave Zion more ball-handling duties, his game, and the Pelicans’ offense, have taken off.
Zion poured in 38 points against the Mavs after setting a career high with 39 the game before. Over the last ten he has averaged 28 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting a staggering 67.4 percent.
He is basically Shaq if he were a point guard and accounted for nearly all of the Pelicans’ 4th quarter points either through his own hoops or setting up teammates.
Zion Williamson is playing big minutes, leading his team and has evolved into a superstar in year two at just 20-years-old.
Not since LeBron has a guy entered the league with such lofty expectations and actually exceeded them.
New Orleans Pelicans: Nickeil Alexander-Walker is back!
I may have to eat my words because I have never been a big fan of Nickeil Alexander-Walker but he is starting to play like a guy who belongs.
Since getting back into the rotation, NAW has played very well, especially in the starting role with Lonzo Ball still out with injury.
He’s made a strong case for himself once Lonzo returns, as Eric Bledsoe has not played well and looks like a guy who has lost all confidence in his shot.
NAW appears to have relocated his, as he has averaged 13 points and 4.3 rebounds over the last ten games after scoring another 20 last night.
He is not forcing the 3-point shot and is just taking them within the flow of the offense, often of Zion Williamson passes, which he did twice near the end of the game last night.
Zion is making all of the right reads, so his teammates are going to get open shots, it is just on them to knock them down.
NAW has also cleaned up his turnovers, is not taking as many bad shots and has played much better defense of late.
He looks like a guy who could be part of the future starting lineup with Lonzo Ball, especially if he keeps up the intensity on the defensive end.
New Orleans Pelicans: Kira Lewis Jr. has been a spark
Kira Lewis may have had his best game as a professional against Dallas, scoring 13 points on seven shots and adding five assists, three rebounds and no turnovers in 25 minutes of action.
He has definitely been a spark off the Pelicans’ bench and continues to look more comfortable as he gets more minutes.
We’ve been advocating for him to replace Eric Bledsoe in the rotation and this might happen sooner rather than later, as Bledsoe just isn’t doing much of anything right now.
The Pels can really have their cake and eat it too with Lewis Jr. as he is the better player which helps them win now, but he is also getting valuable developmental reps that he missed by not having much of an offseason, Summer League or training camp.
When you consider his age and relative inexperience the Pels have to be pretty happy with how he’s played, as he hasn’t made a ton of dumb mistakes and definitely looks like a guy who belongs in the league.
With Zion Williamson playing like an All-NBA talent and both Lewis Jr. and NAW stepping up, the future is surely a lot brighter in New Orleans than it seemed a few weeks ago when both of their young guards were glued to the bench.