Photo Credit: AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

D’Angelo Russell Complains About Zion Williamson’s Physicality After Loss To Pelicans: “He’s Playing Football”

The Minnesota Timberwolves took on the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night and fell short to a score of 119-118. The Timberwolves were in control early, even budging with an 11-point lead in the second quarter. But the Pelicans fought back hard behind Zion Williamson’s 43-point career-high night.

Williamson imposed his physical play and used it to gain advantage by getting to the charity stripe and knocking down 14 of his 19 free throws. While Williamson was eager to take advantage of these extra opportunities, Wolves’ D’Angelo Russell was fed up of Williamson getting away with being too physical.

One play that irked Russell was when Williamson stole the ball from Jaden McDaniels off a pass from Russell himself that led to a transition dunk for the young Pelicans star, giving the Pelicans a two-point lead with under 40 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

GET OUT OF THIS MAN’S WAY!!

Career high 42 points for Zion!! pic.twitter.com/NcmPSooRGi

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 29, 2022

When Russell was asked of this particular play, the 26-year old Wolves guard commented that Williamson was playing football while also expressing his frustration on how they were forced to guard him on the other end.

“He ran through my guy, took the ball. He’s playing football, we playing basketball. We can’t touch him or guard him. So, good for him.”

“He ran through my guy, took the ball. He’s playing football, we playing basketball. We can’t touch him or guard him. So, good for him.”

D’Angelo Russell did NOT hold back on the Wolves’ late turnover to Zion Williamson pic.twitter.com/egZPW2DWLl

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) December 29, 2022