NBA Notes: Pelicans, Zion Williamson, Nuggets, Cameron Johnson, Knicks

Pelicans

The Pelicans’ surprising five-game winning streak ended Tuesday night in Cleveland, but there was still a notable positive to come out of the loss.

Zion Williamson played both games of a back-to-back set for the first time in 14 months, a meaningful checkpoint in his ongoing return, writes Rod Walker of NOLA.com.

Williamson logged 25 minutes Monday in Dallas, then followed it up with 21 more against the Cavaliers. It marked his first back-to-back appearance since October 2024 and his fifth straight game played after recently missing six in a row with an adductor strain.

“Z is progressing well,” coach James Borrego said before the game, via Walker. “He looks well. He’s getting in better shape every game, every day. His mentality is right. His spirit is right. That’s the biggest thing for me. The mindset is right. The body is coming along every day.”

Williamson scored 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting vs. the Cavs, though New Orleans struggled defensively with him on the floor and was outscored by 17 points during his minutes.

Nuggets

The Nuggets received relatively encouraging news on Cameron Johnson after he exited Tuesday’s game with a right knee injury. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, an MRI revealed a bone bruise with no structural damage.

Shams Charania of ESPN added that Johnson is still expected to miss time, but the diagnosis represents a best-case scenario given early concerns about a more serious injury.

Johnson was hurt in the fourth quarter while going up for a defensive rebound and landed awkwardly, per video shared by Grant Afseth. His availability remains uncertain, though Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette reports more clarity should come by Thursday. A Christmas Day return against Minnesota appears unlikely.

Acquired from Brooklyn in the offseason deal that sent Michael Porter Jr. to the Nets, Johnson has found his footing after a slow start. Over his past 17 games, he’s averaging 14.6 points while shooting 50.3 percent overall and 52.3 percent from three.

Denver is already without Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon, forcing Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones into larger roles. Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. are among the candidates to see increased minutes if Johnson misses additional time.

Knicks

In a development that further blurs the line between college and professional basketball, center James Nnaji has enrolled at Baylor and is immediately eligible to play this season, his agents at Gersh Sports tell Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.

Nnaji was selected 31st overall in the 2023 NBA Draft and had his rights dealt to New York as part of the Karl-Anthony Towns three-team trade. He has yet to sign his first NBA contract and has continued playing overseas since being drafted.

While it has become increasingly common for international prospects to enter the NCAA after professional experience, Nnaji’s case is unprecedented in that it comes after being drafted. According to Joe Tipton of On3, the NCAA has granted him four years of eligibility.

The 21-year-old previously played for FC Barcelona and later appeared for Girona and Merkezefendi Basket on loan. Last season in Spain, he averaged 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in limited minutes. He also played Summer League for the Knicks in July.

As Tipton notes, Baylor’s frontcourt has been hit hard by injuries, giving Nnaji a clear path to meaningful playing time. The Knicks retain his NBA rights and can now scout his development stateside rather than overseas.