TORONTO – New Orleans learned Monday that its No. 1 overall draft pick won’t be on the floor for the next 6-8 weeks, but there was no time for the Pelicans to feel sorry for themselves -- and none of the NBA’s other 29 teams will provide much sympathy anyway. In its season opener, New Orleans didn’t look like a team that would struggle without Zion Williamson, but a mostly encouraging performance wasn’t quite enough to generate a road victory.
After a very evenly played regulation and 48 minutes of basketball, Toronto finally gained the upper hand in the final couple minutes of overtime, posting a very hard-fought victory on its ring night.