After missing several games due to injury, Zion Williamson returned to the court on Sunday, injecting much-needed energy into the New Orleans Pelicans with a solid performance.

The injury-plagued forward scored 18 points against the Chicago Bulls, including 7 points in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter, helping his team secure a 114-104 victory.

Williamson had missed five games due to a right hip adductor strain and had been hampered by multiple injuries this season, playing only 11 games. To carefully manage his condition, interim head coach James Borrego brought him on as a substitute. Williamson entered the game midway through the first quarter and played nearly 27 minutes.

After the match, Williamson admitted that he fully understood the arrangement: "It was a plan that would allow me to play in the final stages of the game and also allow my body to adapt to the intensity of playing during specific periods. The coach explained it to me very clearly before the game, and I had no problem with it because it allowed me to finish the game."

Speaking about his return, Williamson said the rhythm was pretty good, but more importantly, the team won. Williamson said, "It feels good, but the most important thing is that we won."

Borrego also spoke highly of Williamson's recovery before the game, believing that he was returning from his adductor injury faster than expected. Williamson attributed this to his physical dedication during the offseason and the assistance of the team's medical and training staff.

“The injury was really bad, and the recovery process wasn’t easy,” Williamson said. “But the preparations I made to my body during the offseason allowed me to complete my rehabilitation more quickly and effectively when problems arose, so I didn’t have to miss too long.”