SAN ANTONIO — With time ticking away, Zion Williamson knew he had to make a play. But he also needed to know where Victor Wembanyama was.
As the 7-foot-4 rookie, as well as Jeremy Sochan and Devin Vassell , tried to chase the New Orleans Pelicans forward down, Williamson ran to the rim at full speed and used his soft touch to get the layup to fall with 3.8 seconds remaining.
The Pelicans got the stop they needed on the other end from Brandon Ingram as the team held on for a 114-113 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night.
“I sent [Ingram] a text message right after the game because he was already doing his lift,” Williamson said. “I said, ‘B.I., if you don’t get that block, I don’t think we win this game.’ So hats off to B.I. on that one.”
It was the first go-ahead field goal in the final five seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime in Williamson’s career, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Williamson was aware of who was chasing him down because of what happened a minute prior. With the Pelicans down one with 1:01 remaining, Williamson tried to get a layup past Wembanyama, but instead the ball was blocked off the backboard into a possession for San Antonio that ended with two Tre Jones free throws.