Zion Williamson’s stellar play has helped the New Orleans Pelicans take over first place in the Southwest Division.
Williamson and his teammates will try to continue their recent surge Sunday afternoon when they host the Northwest Division-leading Denver Nuggets.
The Pelicans have won eight of their last 10 games with Williamson leading the way. On Friday, he scored 30 points and tied career-highs with 15 rebounds and eight assists in a 117-99 victory at San Antonio.
Williamson made 9 of 14 shots against the Spurs, two nights after he made 12 of 15 while scoring a season-high 33 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in a win over Toronto.
Jonas Valanciunas, who finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds, also stepped up big as the Pelicans turned the game around with a 32-19 scoring advantage in the third quarter.
New Orleans has won its past three despite the absence of second-leading scorer Brandon Ingram, who is day-to-day with a toe injury.
Denver had won four games in a row before losing to the short-handed Hawks 117-109 in Atlanta on Friday. The Hawks played without Trae Young, John Collins and De’Andre Hunter.
Denver played without Michael Porter Jr., who has missed the last five games because of a heel injury, and Jeff Green (knee), who might return Sunday.
Nikola Jokic had just four points in the first half as Atlanta took a 60-46 halftime lead. The Nuggets were better in the second half, but not good enough, as Jokic finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
The Hawks outscored Denver 26-11 in points off turnovers. The Nuggets shot 52.9 percent (45 of 85) from the floor, but couldn’t keep up with Atlanta, which shot 55.7 percent (49 of 88).
