Pelicans’ Zion Williamson after another blowout: ‘Fans don’t deserve this’

Zion Williamson wasn’t interested in finding a positive spin after the Pelicans followed a 51-point loss with a 34-point defeat at home.

“Nobody wants to lose like this. It’s unacceptable, especially on home court,” Williamson said after Wednesday’s 145-111 loss to the Nets, via Shane Garry Acedera of Basketball Network. “Fans don’t deserve this; the city don’t deserve this. And it’s up to us to be better for them.”

The Pelicans have lost four straight, with the past two providing little reason for encouragement. Monday’s franchise-record 51-point loss to the Warriors was followed by a home performance in which they allowed 145 points to a Nets team that entered 2-8.

Williamson’s message was that everyone needs to examine his own contribution.

“Just remember this feeling,” he said. “If you don’t like feeling like this after a game, if you don’t like going home like this, you gotta look at the mirror and say, ‘Did I do what I need for my team?’”

Williamson scored 29 points on 8-of-14 shooting. His fellow starters combined for 25, and no other Pelicans player finished with more than 15.

The Nets had eight players score in double figures, led by Michael Porter Jr. and Egor Demin with 22 apiece. They led 39-25 after the first quarter and never gave the Pelicans much opportunity to recover.

There’s losing, and then there’s giving yourself almost no chance to compete. The Pelicans have spent consecutive games doing the latter.

Williamson called for conversations that produce changes, whether those start with the players or the coaching staff.

“And if you feel like you can’t say that, ‘What can I change? What can I do better?’” he said. “Go ask the coaches. Coaches can ask players. Whatever it is, because nobody likes to feel like this.”

The Pelicans don’t need another explanation of how disappointing this has been. Williamson made that clear enough. They need a performance that gives their fans something else to discuss.

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