“I’m a competitor. I want to win” : Zion Williamson Leads Pelicans to Victory Over Clippers with Stellar Performance

Nikola Jokic showcased his dominance in a clash with rookie Victor Wembanyama, propelling the NBA champion Denver Nuggets to a 117-106 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday. The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player scored an impressive 31 points on 13-of-19 shooting, with Jamal Murray adding 15 points and 10 rebounds to secure Denver"s fifth consecutive win.

The Nuggets now hold sole possession of the top spot in the Western Conference with a record of 47-20, edging ahead of Oklahoma City. Christian Braun, stepping in for Jokic in the final minutes, emphasized the team"s focus on maintaining their position at the top, crediting the starters for their stellar performance since the All-Star break.

Meanwhile, in New Orleans, Zion Williamson led the Pelicans to a 112-104 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers with an outstanding 34-point performance. The 23-year-old power forward demonstrated his prowess, shooting 14-of-21 from the field and contributing across the board with seven rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block.

“I want to win, Simple as that. They can take it how they want. I just wanted to win.

“Every game matters. If you want to be in a good spot in the standings you"ve got to win every game. That"s the mindset." : Williamson said.

The Pelicans improved to a 40-26 record, pulling within two games of the Clippers for fourth place in the West. Despite the significance of the win, Williamson emphasized the team"s collective goal of securing victories in every game to secure a favorable position in the standings.

In other NBA action, Devin Booker led the Phoenix Suns to a 107-96 win over the Charlotte Hornets, while Kevin Durant"s 13-point performance for the Suns propelled him closer to passing Shaquille O"Neal on the NBA"s all-time scoring list.

Bam Adebayo guided the Miami Heat to a 108-95 victory over the Detroit Pistons, with Simone Fontecchio shining for Detroit despite the loss. Lastly, Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero powered the Orlando Magic to a 113-103 triumph over the Toronto Raptors, despite Gary Trent Jr."s impressive 31-point effort for the Raptors in a losing cause.