Zion Williamson gets 2nd triple-double in 2 weeks in Pelicans' win over Clippers

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Shortly after Zion Williamson's second triple-double in two weeks, he was asked whether he might be in the best shape of his career, and if he'd really shed as many as 20 pounds from his listed weight of 284.

The 6-foot-6 star power forward smiled as he began to deliver his teasing answer.

“I guess I'm going to do what I've been doing my whole career,” Williamson said. "I'll let the media have fun with it.”

Whatever the case, Williamson is showing an ability to take over games in spectacular fashion, and delight fans who still show up to see him play out what has become — as far as the standings go — a lost season.

“When he makes his mind up that he’s going to attack, there’s really nothing teams can do. He’s been doing that lately, even in limited minutes,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said after his team's 127-120 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night.

“When he’s in high-level conditioning, like he is, he’s really tough to guard and he’s doing it all," Green said. "He’s rebounding. He’s defending.”

Williamson's 22-point, 12-assist and 10-rebound performance against the playoff-contending Clippers was an exhibition of contagious energy and force.

“Huge blocks. Huge rebounds," Green said. "He split a double-team, went down the lane and finished with a monster dunk. Those type of energy plays really get us going.”

Fans who've long since given up on seeing the Pelicans in the postseason were on their feet and jubilant at the sight of Williamson beating the clock at the end of the third quarter with an end-to-end, full-speed dribble and soaring dunk — which he punctuated by throwing a few punches into the padding under the basket.

The play set the stage for a dominant fourth quarter in which Williamson had 10 points, five assists and five rebounds.

“Once I found that rhythm, I just kind of got in that zone," Williamson said. "I’d come too far to lose this game.”

The Pelicans entered this season hoping the trio of Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum could make the club a dark-horse contender. That fizzled when all three were injured early in the season.

The 24-year-old Williamson, plagued by injuries during much of his first six NBA seasons, missed 27 straight games with a hamstring injury. As the trade deadline neared, the Pelicans dealt Ingram, who was in his final season under contract, to Toronto.

The move signaled the Pelicans' intention to move into the coming offseason with Williamson as their centerpiece. Williamson has responded with the first two triple-doubles of his career — the first coming when he had 27 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in a victory at Phoenix on Feb. 28.

“He’s different,” said veteran wing Bruce Brown, who was traded to New Orleans last month. “Once he turns it on, once he comes in and wants to be aggressive, nobody can stop him. Even if they have a big sitting in the paint, there’s really nothing you can do.”

Pelicans reserve center Mo Bamba, who had played against Williamson previously and made his debut with New Orleans on Tuesday, put it another way.

“His launch pad. It’s just, like, it’s crazy,” Bamba said, adding that Williamson's “passing ability is so underrated.”

Williamson has scored 20 or more points in 10 of the 12 games in which he's played since the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline. The first of those was a 40-point night at Sacramento on Feb. 8. He scored 37 against the Lakers in Los Angeles last week.

“The physical ability has always been there,” McCollum said. “But I think mentally he’s taking the next step.”

Williamson said he isn't sure if it's for him to judge whether he's now playing the best basketball of his career, but he added, "This is the best I’ve felt, offensively and defensively.”

And lately, the fact that the Pelicans have little riding on each game hasn't diminished Williamson's intensity.

“It comes down to being a pro and what you want to get out of it," he said. "The season hasn't gone the way we wanted it to, but that don't mean we can't build into something next year, build into better habits.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) tries to drive to the basket between Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) and forward Kawhi Leonard (2) in the second half of an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Forest)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) shoots a layup against Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Forest)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) attemps to drive past Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Forest)

Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn (8), left, and New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) vie for a loose ball in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Forest)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) pulls down a rebound in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers in New Orleans, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Forest)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) throws down a dunk on Los Angeles Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. (55) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Forest)

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills fans arrived early and lingered long after the game ended to bid what could be farewell to their long-time home stadium filled with 53 years of memories — and often piles of snow.

After singing along together to The Killers' “Mr. Brightside” in the closing minutes of a 35-8 victory against the New York Jets, most everyone in the crowd of 70,944 remained in their seats to bask in the glow of fireworks as Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World” played over the stadium speakers.

Several players stopped in the end zone to watch a retrospective video, with the Buffalo-based Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” as the soundtrack while fans recorded selfie videos of the celebratory scene. Offensive lineman Alec Anderson even jumped into the crowd to pose for pictures before leaving the field.

With the Bills (12-5), the AFC's 6th seed, opening the playoffs at Jacksonville in the wild-card round next week, there's but a slim chance they'll play at their old home again. Next season, Buffalo is set to move into its new $1.2 billion facility being built across the street.

The farewell game evoked “a lifetime of memories,” said Therese Forton-Barnes, selected the team’s Fan of the Year, before the Bills kicked of their regular-season finale. “In our culture that we know and love, we can bond together from that experience. Our love for this team, our love for this city, have branched from those roots.”

Forton-Barnes, a past president of the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, attended Bills games as a child at the old War Memorial Stadium in downtown Buffalo, colloquially known as “The Rockpile.” She has been a season ticket holder since Jim Kelly joined the Bills in 1986 at what was then Rich Stadium, later renamed for the team’s founding owner Ralph Wilson, and then corporate sponsors New Era and Highmark.

“I’ve been to over 350 games,” she said. “Today we’re here to cherish and celebrate the past, present and future. We have so many memories that you can’t erase at Rich Stadium, The Ralph, and now Highmark. Forever we will hold these memories when we move across the street.”

There was a celebratory mood to the day, with fans arriving early. Cars lined Abbott Road some 90 minutes before the stadium lots opened for a game the Bills rested most of their starters, with a brisk wind blowing in off of nearby Lake Erie and with temperatures dipping into the low 20s.

And most were in their seats when Bills owner Terry Pegula thanked fans and stadium workers in a pregame address.

With Buffalo leading 21-0 at halftime, many fans stayed in their seats as Kelly and fellow Pro Football Hall of Famer Andre Reed addressed them from the field, and the team played a video message from 100-year-old Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy.

“The fans have been unbelievable,” said Jack Hofstetter, a ticket-taker since the stadium opened in 1973 who was presented with Super Bowl tickets before Sunday’s game by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. “I was a kid making 8 bucks a game back in those days. I got to see all the sports, ushering in the stadium and taking tickets later on. All the memories, it’s been fantastic.”

Bud Light commemorated the stadium finale and Bills fan culture with the release of a special-edition beer brewed with melted snow shoveled out of the stadium earlier this season.

In what has become a winter tradition at the stadium, fans were hired to clear the stands after a lake-effect storm dropped more than a foot of snow on the region this week.

The few remaining shovelers were still present clearing the pathways and end zone stands of snow some five hours before kickoff. The new stadium won’t require as many shovelers, with the field heated and with more than two-thirds of the 60,000-plus seats covered by a curved roof overhang.

Fears of fans rushing the field were abated with large contingent of security personnel and backed by New York State troopers began lining the field during the final 2-minute warning.

Fans stayed in the stands, singing along to the music, with many lingering to take one last glimpse inside the stadium where the scoreboard broadcast one last message:

“Thank You, Bills Mafia.”

AP Sports Writer John Wawrow contributed.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Fans watch a ceremony after the Buffalo Bills beat the New York Jets in the Bills' final regular-season NFL football home game in Highmark Stadium Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White (27) remains on the field to watch a tribute video after the Bills beat the New York Jets in the Bills' final regular-season NFL football home game in Highmark Stadium Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y.(AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Fans watch a ceremony after the Buffalo Bills beat the New York Jets in the Bills' final regular-season NFL football home game in Highmark Stadium Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Fans celebrate after the Buffalo Bills scored a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Fans celebrate and throw snow in the stands after an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Aga Deters, right, and her husband Fred Deters, walk near Highmark Stadium before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Michael Wygant shoves snow from a tunnel before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Alec Anderson (70) spikes the ball after running back Ty Johnson scored a touchdown against the New York Jets in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

FILE - The existing Highmark Stadium, foreground, frames the construction on the new Highmark Stadium, upper right, which is scheduled to open with the 2026 season, shown before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots, Oct. 5, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Salt crew member Jim Earl sprinkles salt in the upper deck before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)