Zion Williamson: season-high 32 points vs Knicks (Dec 29, 2025)
32 PTS · 11-of-16 FG · 10-of-12 FT · 28:54 MIN
Usual before this game: 21.9 PTS · 13.9 FGA · 28.4 MIN, from this season's 17 games plus last season's average, counted as 1.5 games
Best Game Score of 18 games this season: 29.1 against a usual 17.4 (+11.7)
Season-high 32 points (previous high 29, reached in 3 earlier games)
above usual
No more than 5 in 100 games by players at this level finish this far above their usual.
For a player who plays every game, a game this far above the usual comes about 2 to 4 times a season.
How the score worksWhy did Zion Williamson score 32 points?
In 28:54 against the Knicks on Dec 29, 2025, Zion Williamson scored 32 points: 11-of-16 from the field (68.8%), 10-of-12 on free throws (83.3%). The usual line blends this season's 17 games with last season's average, counted as 1.5 games: 21.9 points on 13.9 shots in 28.4 minutes. The 32 points were a season high, above the previous 29. This game had the best Game Score of 18 games this season. The 68.8% from the field compares with a usual 54.2%. By shot type: two-pointers 22 points (usual 15.0); free throws 10 points (usual 6.9). Minutes: 28:54, against a usual 28.4; Game Score per 36 minutes: 36.2, against a usual 22.1. At home against the Knicks, the Pelicans lost 130-125. The box score records what changed, not why: it holds no injury, matchup or coaching information.
Generated from the box score and this season's game log. How the score works
What changed
Williamson in this game against the usual line
| Stat | This game | Usual (blended) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 28:54 | 28.4 | +0.5 |
| Points | 32 | 21.9 | +10.1 |
| Shots (FGA) · FG% | 16 · 68.8% | 13.9 · 54.2% | +2.1 · +14.6 |
| FTA · FT% | 12 · 83.3% | 9.2 · 74.6% | +2.8 · +8.7 |
| Rebounds | 5 | 5.9 | -0.9 |
| Assists | 2 | 3.6 | -1.6 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2.7 | -0.7 |
| UsageUsual: minutes-weighted average of per-game usage, 17 games | 32.6 | 29.7 | +2.9 |
| Game Score per 36 minutes | 36.2 | 22.1 | +14.1 |
Points by shot type
Twos, threes and free throws: the changes add up to the points change
| Shot type | This game | Usual (blended) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twos | 22 (11-of-16) | 15.0 (7.5-of-13.7) | +7.0 |
| Free throws | 10 (10-of-12) | 6.9 (6.9-of-9.2) | +3.1 |
| Total | 32 | 21.9 | +10.1 |
Game Score
One measure of the whole box score line
29.1 against a usual 17.4 (+11.7)
Its five parts
| Part | Change |
|---|---|
| Scoring, net of shot attempts | +10.1 |
| Rebounds | 0.0 |
| Assists | -1.1 |
| Steals and blocks | +1.9 |
| Turnovers and fouls | +0.8 |
| Total | +11.7 |
Season so far
Regular season, in date order
Best Game Score of 18 games this season.
Previous best: 24.2, set on Dec 20, 2025.
Context
From the rows this page already reads
- The Pelicans lost 130-125 at home against the Knicks.
- Previous appearance: Dec 27, 2025, 2 days earlier.
- No earlier regular-season meetings with the Knicks this season.
What this page cannot tell you
The same on every performance page
Box scores record what happened, not why: no injuries or health, defensive assignments, matchups, coaching decisions or play-by-play.
Game Score against the player's own usual line. How rare a gap is comes from NBA regular-season games of 2023-24 and 2024-25, checked on 2025-26.