The Pelicans’ five-game winning streak may have hit a wall in Cleveland on Tuesday, but there was still a silver lining - and it came in the form of Zion Williamson. For the first time in over a year, Williamson suited up for both ends of a back-to-back, a milestone that speaks volumes about his progress and the Pelicans’ long-game outlook.
Zion logged 21 minutes against the Cavaliers, just a day after playing 25 against Dallas. It marked his first back-to-back appearance since October 2024, and more importantly, it was his fifth straight game on the floor after missing six with an adductor strain. That’s not just a box checked - that’s a major step forward for a player whose availability has often been the biggest question surrounding his immense talent.
“Z is progressing well,” said head coach James Borrego before tipoff in Cleveland. “He looks well.
He’s getting in better shape every game, every day. His mentality is right.
His spirit is right. That’s the biggest thing for me.
The mindset is right. The body is coming along every day.
Getting better and better.”
And Zion looked the part offensively - 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting, showing off that blend of power and finesse that makes him one of the league’s most unique scoring threats. But the other side of the ball told a different story. The Pelicans were outscored by 17 points in his 21 minutes, a reminder that while Zion’s offensive rhythm is rounding into form, the team still needs to tighten things up defensively when he’s on the floor.
Around the Southwest:
**Dallas’ Cooper Flagg continues to turn heads - and not just with highlight reels. ** The 19-year-old forward, fresh off his birthday weekend, nearly dropped a triple-double on the Nuggets: 33 points, nine rebounds, nine assists.
That stat line alone is impressive, but the poise behind it is what’s really catching attention. Just ask Nikola Jokic.
“I’m going to say the poise that he played with, he doesn’t feel like he’s so young out there,” Jokic said. “He seems like he played meaningful games and he was winning before.
That’s my opinion. He looked really mature out there.”
For a rookie to earn that kind of respect from a former MVP? That says a lot. Flagg isn’t just producing - he’s commanding the floor like someone who’s been here before.
**In Memphis, GG Jackson II made the most of his opportunity. ** With Cedric Coward sidelined due to left heel soreness, Jackson stepped into the starting lineup for the first time this season and delivered in a big way - 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting, plus nine rebounds in a win over Utah.
Jackson’s been working on being more decisive with the ball, especially cutting down on unnecessary dribbling, and it showed. He looked confident, efficient, and fully in control.
Also back in action for the Grizzlies: guard Javon Small, who returned from a turf toe injury that had sidelined him since November 7. Small played 12 minutes off the bench and dished out seven assists, giving Memphis another steady hand in the backcourt while Cam Spencer continues to hold down the starting role in Ja Morant’s absence.
Meanwhile, in San Antonio, the Spurs continue to show they’re not afraid of the big dogs. For the second time in 10 days, they knocked off the defending champs. But don’t expect Victor Wembanyama to start throwing around the “rivalry” label just yet.
“It feels like saying it’s a rivalry would be a weird thing because it’s something that builds naturally,” Wembanyama said. “I didn’t say that it’s impossible that it can be (a rivalry) in the future.
I hope it will be soon. But we’re definitely getting closer.”
That next chapter could be written as soon as Thursday, when the Spurs and Thunder face off again - this time on the NBA’s Christmas Day stage. With young stars and rising stakes, it’s a matchup that’s starting to feel like more than just another game.