On Thursday night, the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 107-100 thanks to 28 points from Zion Williamson and 25 from CJ McCollum.

For New Orleans, Jonas Valanciunas recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, his 32nd of the year, albeit his first in 11 games. For the Pelicans, who prevailed despite making just 8 of 32 3-pointers and shooting just 39.6% (36 of 91) overall, Trey Murphy III had 15 points and 11 rebounds.

For Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 35 points and 14 rebounds. The Bucks were led by 20 points from Damian Lillard and six 3-pointers from Malik Beasley.

Following an overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in its previous game, Milwaukee suffered its second straight defeat.

For the most of the contest, including the first half, the Pelicans led by as many as 18. Similar to Tuesday night, when the Pelicans squandered a five-point lead to Oklahoma City in the final three minutes, New Orleans’ advantage was cut to five when Lillard made a three-pointer with little over five minutes remaining.

Williamson, who was without a shot in the closing seconds of Tuesday’s defeat, went after the hoop this time and advanced to the foul line. He converted five of six free throws to assist the Pelicans in winning the game.

In the paint, New Orleans outscored Milwaukee 52–44, and the Pelicans made 27 of 34 free throw attempts. Milwaukee attempted and made 10 of its 19 free throws.

After being fouled and converting a three-point play off a 7-foot runner, McCollum gave New Orleans a lead as large as 18 points in the first half, sealing a 14-2 run that saw them up 52-34.

The outburst started with a 3-pointer from Valanciunas and a basket from Herb Jones after McCollum was fouled by Lillard and floatered off the boards.

Twelve of Antetokounmpo’s points came in the first half, including an alley-oop layup that put New Orleans ahead 59-45. Larry Nance Jr.’s floater at the buzzer gave the Hornets a halftime lead of 61-45.