He’s back: Zion Williamson as dominant as ever in return from injury

A three-week layoff was no problem for Zion Williamson, who played a perfect game in Duke’s victory over Syracuse in the ACC Tournament.

All the hype entering this game was about what shape the returning Zion Williamson would be in after missing the past six games with a knee injury. Williamson put all of his doubters in their place, putting up 29 points and 14 rebounds to help Duke top Syracuse 84-72.

The display was even more remarkable because Williamson didn’t miss a shot, going a ridiculous 13-13 from the floor. While there were plenty of thunderous dunks involved in the game, Williamson was a force on both ends, clearly the difference maker in this one.

Williamson absolutely put on a show, with this dunk just minutes into the game signaling that he was back and is still a very bad man.

There was also this showstopper later in the first half.

Simply put, Williamson’s greatness was on display throughout as he crashed the glass, snagged five steals, and blocked a shot for good measure. The most impressive part of this was that Williamson played 34 minutes for Duke, showcasing that he is completely healthy, a fact he told ESPN’s Allison Williams after the game.

Duke had struggled to score without Williamson in the lineup, and if he is healthy the fact that they can’t really shoot from the perimeter isn’t an issue. Williamson’s mere presence on the floor draws defenders inside, creating space for guys like Cam Reddish and Tre Jones to create offense on the outside.

The 13-13 effort marked the first time a Duke player ever was perfect on more than 12 shots, and it was the first time a player has ever gone 13-13 in an ACC Tournament game. There could be plenty of magic from Williamson and Duke in the NCAA Tournament if this effort was a sign of things to come.