Zion causes excitement!
Superstar Zion Williamson (22) from the New Orleans Pelicans put on a show again in the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns. When the Pelicans won 128:117, the power forward caused a stir at the end of the game with his dunk.
After a missed shot by Chris Paul (37), the Pelicans already had the win in their pockets. The Phoenix Suns stopped playing – but one wasn’t done yet! With the clock running out, Williamson decided to end the game with a slam dunk.
“Unsportsmanlike and disrespectful” – Suns are angry
As soon as Williamson started to dunk, you could see immediately that there would be trouble! It’s an unwritten law in the NBA that you don’t throw the ball in situations like this, and the truth is, Williamson should have known better.
Cameron Payne and Chris Paul in particular did not like the action at all, which caused tempers to heat up on both sides and some arguments broke out.
“This game was already decided and they just kept playing,” said Suns guard Cameron Payne after the game. “I think it was unsportsmanlike and we didn’t like that. We didn’t react well to that. We don’t like to lose but the game was over and they could have just kept the ball.”
As soon as the situation escalated, tempers calmed down again. Paul then said in the interview:
“Things like that happen. There was no scuffle, nothing happened.”
Youngster shows remorse
Williamson also later admitted that his action was unnecessary. “I’m not really, but you can either understand it or not. They sent my teammates on vacation last season and I couldn’t help. That also played a role today, I admit that.”
The win against Phoenix allowed the Pelicans to solidify their lead in the Western Conference. However, the Suns can hope for a rematch when the two teams meet for the final time of the regular season on December 17.
