NBA weapon Zion Williamson turns monster in big New Orleans win

NBA superhuman Zion Williamson has exploded in his team’s biggest ever comeback, while Ben Simmons went huge for the Sixers.

Zion’s time is now.

Zion Williamson is having a scary month of ball that has only been seen in the NBA five-times previously.

The explosive forward caught fire in the second half as the New Orleans Pelicans pulled off the biggest comeback win in franchise history with a 120-115 win in overtime on Monday.

Williamson had 28 points and 10 rebounds and was a huge part of the Pelicans second-half defensive shut down.

The 20-year-old former No. 1 Draft Pick had 24 of his points after the half time break as the Celtics let a 24-point lead slip.

Brandon Ingram scored 33 points and hit the go-ahead three pointer with 34 seconds remaining in overtime. But it was Williamson’s impressive display that headlined the big win.

According to ESPN Stats, Williamson’s February numbers have been since just a handful of times previously.

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Zion Williamson in full flight.

He is averaging 26.8 points at 66 per cent from the field. Only Dwight Howard, Charles Barkley, Bernard King, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain have also had months as hot as the one Williamson is on.

More impressively is what Williamson has been doing off the ball and the manner of how he is getting buckets.

The best thing about what Zion is doing is that he isn't even good at half of the stuff that made him a such a historic prospect (playmaking off the bounce, not running like he’s in diapers, defensive versatility to the extreme) and he is already a game breaking force. https://t.co/6sjSquptYs

— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) February 22, 2021

The crazy thing is Zion Williamson is only scratching the surface

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) February 21, 2021

Williamson also delivered the crucial go-ahead bucket with seven seconds on the clock in regular time.

“That means a lot to me,” Williamson said of having the ball in his hands at the death.

“That’s what every player puts in hard work, to be in those moments.

“They are all looking at me in that moment like, ‘We with you. Whatever decision you make, we’re with you.’ To have people behind me like that, it means a lot.”

Jayson Tatum scored 32, Jaylen Brown had 25, and Tristan Thompson and Kemba Walker added 14 each to lead the Celtics.

BEN SIMMONS HAS 70 POINTS IN HIS LAST TWO GAMES

Ben Simmons is feeling it right now.

Ben Simmons had another monster performance for the Sixers, but the Eastern Conference leaders fell to rivals Toronto on the road Monday.

The Aussie returned from a stomach illness in explosive fashion with 28 points, nine rebounds and five assists, shooting nine of 11 from the field.

He combined for 53 points with teammate Joel Embiid, who also had 17 rebounds.

The 110-103 loss drops the 76ers to 20-11 for the season and snapped a two-game winning streak.

Simmons had missed the Sixers recent run and had not played since his statement 42-point performance against Utah last week.

He has found the aggressiveness the NBA world has been screaming out for him to find and is now averaging 27.8 points in his past four games, shooting an incredible 79.5 per cent from the field, according to Sixers reporter Brian Seltzer.

It comes after Simmons controversially missed out on an All-Star starting position earlier this month.

He was brushed in favour of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Bradley Beal (Washington), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee) and Embiid (Philadelphia).

Simmons finished 11th in the fan vote.

He has been a force ever since.

— with AFP