NEW ORLEANS -- Pelicans star forward Zion Williamson made his return with 14 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists in a 125-118 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.
Williamson logged 29 minutes in his first game since being diagnosed with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain on Nov. 4. Williamson, who missed eight games, made 6 of 13 shots and was a plus-14 during his time on the floor.
He had six points in his first seven minutes.
"It was great," Pelicans interim coach James Borrego said. "He got us off to a really good start. His energy, just having Zion out there for our spirit as a team, as a city, as an organization is phenomenal. We feel like we got a shot every night when he is on the floor. I think we started the game with that mentality, and we fought to the end."
The Pelicans lost their seventh straight contest despite a career-high 30 points from rookie center Derik Queen. Denver's Nikola Jokic finished with 28 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds before fouling out. Peyton Watson exploded for 32 points and 12 rebounds with starting power forward Aaron Gordon (bilateral hamstring injury management) sitting out.
Queen credited Williamson's presence with opening things for him.
"Even though I was the leading scorer of the game [for the Pelicans], Z's presence and [Trey Murphy's] presence out there is huge," Queen said. "Having them out there, [the Nuggets] keep an eye on him and they trust me to play my game."
While Williamson was out, New Orleans dropped six straight and fired coach Willie Green. The Pelicans are looking forward to having the return of their star, who did not talk to reporters after the game.
"He looked good," Borrego said. "He looked impressive. The game plan was built around him, and he was a willing passer. He gave it up. They showed him bodies, and he generated a lot of quality shots for us. Really impressed by his first game back."