NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Zion Williamson returned to the New Orleans Pelicans' lineup on Wednesday night, scoring 14 points in a 125-118 loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Williamson played 29 minutes after missing eight games with a strained left hamstring. He also had six rebounds, five assists, a steal and a blocked shot.
“He was great. He got us off to a really good start,” Pelicans interim coach James Borrego said, referring to the Pelicans’ 23-10, first-quarter lead.
“More than anything, just having Zion out there for our spirit as a team, as a city, as an organization, is phenomenal," Borrego said. “We feel like we’ve got a shot every night when he’s on the floor.”
Borrego said his staff was mindful of Williamson's minutes and didn't want to overexert him in his first action since Nov. 2.
“He looked good. He looked impressive, Borrego said. “The game plan was built around him and he was a willing passer tonight. They showed him bodies. He generated a lot of quality shots for us tonight.”
Williamson declined to speak with reporters after the game.
Rookie Derik Queen, who started opposite Nuggets star Nikola Jokic at center, was New Orleans' leading scorer with a career-high 30 points and nine assists. Queen said his output stemmed in no small part from the attention Denver defenders were paying to Williamson and high-scoring wing Trey Murphy III.
“Z's presence and Murph's presence is huge because they're 1 and 2 out there,” Queen said. "They just trust me to play my game and try to make all the right decisions."
The Pelicans (2-13) won two games after Williamson first went out of the lineup, but have since lost seven straight.
Williamson, who also missed a game earlier this season with a foot injury, has now played in six of the Pelicans' first 15 games, averaging 21.3 points and 6.8 rebounds.
Entering Wednesday, Williamson, the No. 1 pick out of Duke in 2019, had played in 219 of 486 regular-season games in his NBA career.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) goes to the basket in front of Denver Nuggets forward Cameron Johnson (23) in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) steals the ball from Denver Nuggets forward Spencer Jones in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) goes to the basket over Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
CINCINNATI (AP) — Oneil Cruz had a three-run homer, his third in two games, Paul Skenes allowed one run in five innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Cincinnati Reds 8-3 on Wednesday to take the three-game series.
Bryan Reynolds had a two-run shot, and Nick Gonzales added a two-run double during the ninth inning.
Eugenio Suárez had a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the sixth inning for the Reds.
Cruz went 5 for 13 with three home runs and six RBIs in the series. The power-hitting outfielder has gone deep nine times in the 19 games he has played in Cincinnati.
Reds starter Andrew Abbott (0-1) retired the first two Pirates hitters before Bryan Reynolds singled to right and Marcell Ozuna drew a walk. Cruz then connected on a 2-1 curveball that was over the bottom part of the plate and drove it 407 feet over the wall in right field.
Skenes (1-1) returned to his All-Star form after giving up five runs in two-thirds of an inning last Thursday in the season opener against the New York Mets. The reigning NL Cy Young winner allowed three hits, walked two and struck out five.
The right-hander gave up two walks in the first three innings before Elly De La Cruz led off the fourth with a base hit to right. Two batters later, Nathaniel Lowe had an RBI double to right-center, snapping the Reds’ 31-inning scoreless streak against Skenes.
Pittsburgh took a 4-1 lead in the sixth when Cruz scored after Spencer Horwitz was walked by Connor Phillips with the bases loaded.
Suárez got the Reds within a run in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run homer to left, his second of the season.
Pirates: Have their home opener on Friday against Baltimore. RHP Mitch Keller (0-0, 0.00 ERA) gets the start.
Reds: Open a seven-game road trip on Friday against Texas. RHP Brady Singer (0-0, 6.75 ERA) makes his second start.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz, left, Marcell Ozuna, center, and Bryan Reynolds, right, after hitting a three-run homer in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz, right, celebrates with Marcell Ozuna, center, and Nick Yorke, left, after hitting a three-run homer in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Cincinnati, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz (15) celebrates with third base coach Tony Beasley (27) as he rounds the bases after hitting a three-run homer in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
