Zion Williamson had 12 issues, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in 16 mins all over the Orlando Witchery’s 122-105 victory over the Fresh Orleans Pelicans within the preseason opener for each golf equipment on Tuesday night time.

It was once Williamson’s first look in a recreation since he injured his proper hamstring in Philadelphia ultimate Jan. 2. Later lacking his first two photographs, he scored his first issues on a crowd-pleasing, two-handed dunk. He next added a 13-foot operating floater, a snip turnaround and a layup to travel with 4 sovereign throws.

“He looked good. He’s unstoppable. So he’s going to do what he wants out there on the court. It’s just a matter of us getting our spacing right, playing with the right pace, tempo, getting stops and getting out and running,” teammate CJ McCollum stated. “But he’s going to figure it out. He’s going to be successful. We just got to make sure we continue to push the pace.

“Clearly, we would like our very best avid gamers in an effort to play games each night time and it is a step in that path. And it’s a chance for the fanatics to peer the paintings that he’s installed — the paintings that we’ve installed jointly to aim to be higher this season.”

The Orlando starters played the first few minutes of the second half. Wendell Carter Jr. finished with 18 points in 19 minutes. Paolo Banchero scored 12, highlighted by his driving, one-handed dunk between Williamson and Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas. Banchero also grabbed six rebounds in 20 minutes.

Eleventh overall pick Jett Howard (Michigan coach Juwan Howard’s son) scored eight points for the Magic, and No. 6 Anthony Black added two points. Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said prior to opening tip that Joe Ingles was getting a veteran night off.

Jordan Hawkins (UConn), who was New Orleans’ top pick (14th overall) this summer, made his first 3-point attempt and finished with nine points on 4-of-14 shooting. Former Ohio State star E.J. Liddell, who was the Pelicans’ second-round pick in 2022 but had a major knee injury and missed all of his rookie season, played 17 minutes and scored two points.

Reporting by way of The Related Press.

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