NBA

Zion Williamson return to Pelicans is coming at the perfect time

Zion is coming, and the Pelicans are peaking just in time.

Ahead of Zion Williamson’s anticipated NBA debut Wednesday, the Pelicans began buzzing early by draining a franchise-record 21 3-pointers Monday night en route to a 126-116 win over the Grizzlies.

It was only a month ago the Pelicans were setting the wrong kind of franchise record, when they lost their 13th straight game to fall to 6-22. But they have now won 11 of 16, heading into Williamson’s arrival Wednesday against the Spurs playing their best basketball of the season.

“For sure,” Lonzo Ball said. “I mean, it’s a lot better than the 13 skid we had, so moving in the right direction.”

While Williamson had been the Pelicans’ most notable rehabbing player following October knee surgery for a torn meniscus, they also recently got back Derrick Favors and Jrue Holiday from injuries.

Ball is fully healthy again as well after an early-season adductor strain. Over his last 15 games, the third-year guard is averaging 14.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

“I think the pace of the game is great and Lonzo has done a great job with that,” coach Alvin Gentry said. “I think we are finding the right people at the right time and I think our defense has been really solid.”

Holiday returned with a bang Monday, shooting 7-for-10 from 3 and scoring 36 points.

“You see how well the team has been doing, and how they have been fighting and beating good teams and playing very well.” Holiday said. “I just wanted to get back out there with them. The performance I had was just juice and I guess I just had the hot hand.”

But their next return will be the biggest, when Williamson takes the court Wednesday night from offseason knee surgery, even with minutes restrictions on him.

“It’s going to be sold out,” Brandon Ingram said. “Every single night. When they start to see Zion playing, it’s going to be sold out.”