Williamson scores career-high 43, Pelicans top Timberwolves

New Orleans Pelicans player Zion Williamson dodged and grinned as his jubilant teammates dumped water bottles over him. Trey Muprhy III then made like he was putting a crown on Williamson’s head, which was an appropriate gesture as the game’s spectacular finish had an air of coronation.

Williamson tallied a career-high 43 points, including the final 14 points for New Orleans in the closing 2:44 of the game as they eked out a 119-118 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.

Williamson, who is only 22, added, “People remember winners.” “When you consider the all-time greats, the first criteria you use is championships, how they performed under pressure. I hope history will remember me as one of the victorious ones.

It’s not enough for me to simply sit here and declare that winning is important to me. Williamson said, “I’ve got to demonstrate it,” and said that teammate CJ McCollum was instrumental in pushing him in the closing minutes.

CJ gave me the look like, “You want to be great, this is the chance to accomplish it.”

The Wolves led for the most of the game and by as many as 11 points before suffering their fourth straight loss, which was sealed when Anthony Edwards, who scored 27 points, missed a baseline fade for the win as time expired.