Zion Williamson scores 22 in exchange for injury as Pelicans lose

NEW ORLEANS – Zion Williamson scored 22 points to go along with 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and a block in his return from a 27-game absence due to a left hamstring strain.

Williamson played 27 minutes Tuesday in a 104-97 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. It was just his seventh game of the season for an injury-ravaged Pelicans team.

Dejounte Murray, a trade acquisition over the summer who missed 17 games after breaking a hand to start the season, had yet to play with Williamson this season, but the duo worked well together in their debut. Twice, a Murray steal resulted in a Williamson breakaway dunk — one of them a 360-degree, double-clutch, roundhouse jam.

They just needed more help against the wolves. CJ McCollum, who scored 50 points just two games earlier, shot 1-of-14, while Yves Missi and Herbert Jones combined for just 12 points.

Injuries have plagued Williamson’s career, limiting the selection of no. 1 in 2019 for 190 games over 5½ seasons. Specifically, Williamson has had ongoing problems with his hamstrings over the past few seasons.

A hamstring strain sidelined him for the final 45 games of the 2022-23 season, when he was selected as an All-Star for the second time. Williamson played in a career-high 70 games last season but left a play-in game with a hamstring strain that sidelined him for the Pelicans’ first-round playoff loss.

Tuesday’s loss dropped the Pelicans to 3-21 over their last 24 games.

ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and The Associated Press contributed to this story.