Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram have ignited the New Orleans Pelicans in the early stages of this season, propelling the team to victory in its first two games. On Monday night, the Pelicans will seek to maintain their momentum as they take on the Golden State Warriors on their home court.
Williamson has been a standout performer, averaging 23.5 points while shooting an impressive 61.8 percent from the field. Meanwhile, Ingram has been equally impressive, contributing 22.5 points per game with a field-goal percentage of 51.4.
“We know what we can do,” said Ingram. “We know what we can do against other players, and we’re going to continue to show that every single night.”
Over the past two seasons, these former All-Star forwards have had limited opportunities to showcase their talents together. Williamson missed the entire 2021-22 season due to a foot injury, and last season, he and Ingram played just 12 games together.
In their most recent game against the New York Knicks, Williamson made 12 of 17 shots, tallying 24 points in a 96-87 victory.
“My teammates had a lot of off-ball movement,” said Williamson. “That gave me a little bit more space, and I made the most of it.”
The Pelicans focused on improving their 3-point shooting during the offseason and training camp to create additional spacing for Williamson and Ingram to operate within.
Despite only making 9 of 33 attempts from beyond the arc against the Knicks, they had a more successful outing in their season opener against Memphis, sinking 14 of 32 3-pointers in a 111-104 victory.
“We have a lot of talent across the board,” Ingram emphasized. “So, we have more guys on the floor that can push the pace. We’ve got some shooters on the wing.”
On the other side, the Golden State Warriors have a reputation for their exceptional shooting prowess. In their recent game against the Houston Rockets, they converted 18 of 45 attempts from long range, securing a 106-95 victory.
Stephen Curry was the driving force behind their victory, scoring 24 points and making four 3-pointers in under two minutes during the fourth quarter. This dominant performance initiated a 15-2 run, providing the Warriors with a comfortable lead to close out the game.
“The fourth quarter was just about making shots, getting stops, and withstanding their energy,” Curry explained.
Klay Thompson contributed 19 points, Gary Payton II provided 15 points off the bench, and Andrew Wiggins chipped in with 13.
Draymond Green, who returned from an ankle injury, played for the first time this season. Despite being on a minutes restriction, he managed four points, five rebounds, and five assists in 21 minutes of play.
“We made a bunch of stops down the stretch, and Draymond was right in the middle of it all,” noted Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “That didn’t surprise me because that’s who he is, but it’s going to take him a little time to shake the rust off.”
After losing their season opener to the Suns, the Warriors have bounced back with two road victories, first against the Sacramento Kings and then against the Houston Rockets. This is a notable achievement considering they won only 11 road games throughout the entire previous season.
