West Notes: Pelicans, Zion Williamson, Clippers, Kings

Pelicans

Power forward Zion Williamson returned in a big way after missing two games with a bruised hip, scoring 21 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a rout of the Clippers.

“Still a little sore, man,” Williamson told reporters. “I’ve taken a lot of falls, but I ain’t never had a fall like that one. But it was fine enough for me to play. Unless I’m truly injured, I’m going to be playing the game of basketball. That’s just how I am.”

Coach Willie Green added the Pelicans are clearly a different team with Williamson on the court.

“When he touches the ball, he makes the right play, whether it’s to score for himself, finding his teammates or kicking it out, setting screens, continuing to move,” Green said. 

Clippers

The Clippers have lost four straight after starting the season with a pair of wins.

“We just got to do some things better,” Coach Tyronn Lue told reporters. “We’re not a very good basketball team now and we got to change that.”

• Perhaps not so coincidentally, star forward Kawhi Leonard has missed each of the four losses with knee stiffness. He has already been ruled out for Monday’s game vs. the Rockets.

Kings

Mike Brown got his first win as Kings coach Saturday against the Heat, saying it’s hopefully just the start of things to come.

“It was (about) trying to get a win,” Brown told reporters. “Doesn’t matter when it comes. … hopefully we can have some carryover going on this road trip.”

Brown formerly coached the Cavaliers (twice) and Lakers, and said his current team’s unity could eventually take it places.

“Nobody knows how hard those guys work,” Brown said. “Watching these guys work every day and seeing their togetherness, you feel that we’re going to have a real shot at this thing.”