Sports writing (USA), Apr 27 (EFE) .- Forward Zion Williamson scored 23 points and became the leader of the New Orleans Pelicans who had the Spanish center Willy Hernangómez as the starter and beat Los Angeles Clippers.
Point guard Lonzo Ball had 18 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals for New Orleans.
Hernangómez dominated the inside game with a double-double of 12 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and a block in the 32 minutes he played. The Spanish international made a great selection of shots to the basket with 5 of 7 in the field, without attempts from outside the perimeter, and hit 2-2 from the personnel line.
The former Real Madrid player also made a great defense that was another key in the victory of the Pelicans (27-34), who occupy eleventh place in the Western Conference.
New Orleans largely neutralized Clippers star forward Paul George, whose nine points on 3 of 11 shooting fell well short of his usual 24 points per game.
Guard Terance Mann scored 17 points and center DeMarcus Cousins added a double-double of 16 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks for the Clippers, who played for the fourth straight game without star forward Kawhi Leonard, out due to injury.
Faced with the Pelicans’ good defense, the Clippers missed 31 of 45 3-pointers, and George missed 5 of 6 from outside the perimeter.
In addition, the Clippers (43-20) turned the ball over 19 times, allowing the Pelicans to score 21 points.
(c) EFE Agency