MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The New Orleans Pelicans ruled star forward Zion Williamson out of their game at Minnesota on Friday with a bruised lower back, two days after he scored 29 points on 12-for-16 shooting with eight rebounds and three steals in a victory over the Timberwolves.
The oft-injured Williamson had a 27-game absence earlier this season to a strained left hamstring and has been sidelined for various reasons on several other occasions. The first overall pick in the 2019 draft has played in only 214 games over his six NBA seasons, including 30 games in 2024-25 for the struggling Pelicans. His first two career triple-doubles have come in the last three weeks. The two-time All-Star is averaging 24.6 points and 28.6 minutes per game.
New Orleans, which is second-to-last in the Western Conference, has also been without key players Trey Murphy III, Dejounte Murray, Herbert Jones and Brandon Boston to long-term injuries.
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New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) works toward the basket as New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks rose in morning trading on Wall Street Friday, joining global markets to kick off a new year on an upbeat note.
The S&P 500 rose 0.7%. The benchmark index is coming off a gain of more than 16% in 2025.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 42 points, or 0.1%, as of 10:03 a.m. Eastern. The Nasdaq composite rose 1.3%.
Markets in Europe and Asia also made strong gains. Indexes in Britain and South Korea hit records.
The gains are helping trim some of the broader weekly losses for the market, which is closing a shortened holiday week. Markets were closed Thursday for New Year’s Day.
Technology stocks were leading the market higher, especially companies with a focus on artificial intelligence, continuing the trend that pushed the broader market to records in 2025.
Nvidia jumped 2.8% and was the biggest force pushing the market higher. Apple jumped 2% and Google's parent company, Alphabet, rose 2%. They are among the most valuable companies in the world and their outsized valuations give them more influence on the market's direction.
Technology companies have been a major focus because of advancements in artificial intelligence technology and the potential for growth within the sector. Wall Street has been betting that demand for computer chips and other items needed for data centers will help justify the big investments from technology companies and their pricey stock values.
Tesla rose 0.8% despite reporting falling sales for a second year in a row.
E-commerce giant Alibaba climbed 4.3% and Baidu, maker of the Ernie chatbot, jumped 9.4% in Hong Kong after it said it plans to spin off its AI computer chip unit Kunlunxin, which would list shares in Hong Kong early in 2027. The plan is subject to regulatory approvals.
Crude oil prices slipped. Prices for U.S. crude oil fell 1.2% to $56.73 per barrel. The price of Brent crude, the international standard, fell 1.2% to $60.13 per barrel.
Gold prices kicked off the new year with more gains. The price of gold rose 0.7%.
Treasury yields held steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.18% from 4.17% late Wednesday. The yield on the two-year Treasury, which moves more closely with expectations for what the Federal Reserve will do, held steady at 3.48% from late Wednesday.
AP business writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed to this report.
A screen shows the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) as participants applaud during the opening ceremony of the 2026 trading year at the Korea Exchange in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dancers in traditional costumes perform to celebrate the opening for the 2026 trading year outside of the Korea Exchange in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
A worker walks near a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) after the opening ceremony of the 2026 trading year at the Korea Exchange in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
South Korean financial officers celebrate the opening for the 2026 trading year outside of the Korea Exchange in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dancers in a bull-shaped costume perform to celebrate the opening for the 2026 trading year outside of the Korea Exchange in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
