More important than any single play, …

More important than any single play, though, was that for the first time in three games, the No. 1 overall pick with planet-shifting size and skill, was able to be on the court when the game ended. And even more crucial than that, for the first time at Disney the Pelicans won, beating the Memphis Grizzlies, 109-99. The confluence of events may have re-lit a fire under their once fading playoff hopes. “It felt great to do that,” Williamson said. “My competitive spirit was turned on. I was just happy the training staff and my team trusted me to be able to close the game out.”