Pelicans Beat Pacers 128-109 on Williamson's 29 Points

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson erupted for 29 points off the bench, matching his season high and powering the team to a 128-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night at the Smoothie King Center. The win extended the Pelicans' season-high winning streak to four games, providing a spark for a squad mired near the bottom of the Western Conference with a 7-22 record.

Williamson, returning from a hip adductor injury, played limited minutes in his third straight game coming off the bench under interim head coach James Borrego. The former No. 1 overall pick shot 9 of 14 from the floor and 11 of 13 from the free-throw line, scoring 18 points in the first half alone. He led a dominant opening quarter where New Orleans shot 61 percent from the field, making 17 of 28 attempts with 11 assists to build a 44-27 lead. The Pelicans carried a 64-49 advantage into halftime after outscoring Indiana 18-8 to close the second period, despite an early Pacers run fueled by six New Orleans turnovers.

The reserves carried the load, combining for a season-high 66 points. Saddiq Bey added 18 points, while Trey Murphy III and rookie center Derik Queen each scored 17. Queen,...