Zion Williamson could not prevent the New Orleans' Pelicans' 30th defeat of the season on Tuesday, but there were positives on his return.

Zion Williamson said it was just "another day at the office" after returning from a long injury lay-off with 22 points in the New Orleans Pelicans' defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Williamson had missed 27 games due to a hamstring strain he suffered in early November, in a 131-122 defeat to the high-flying Cleveland Cavaliers.

He returned at Smoothie King Center on Tuesday and produced an impressive display despite being limited to 28 minutes on the court, adding six rebounds and four assists to his fourth 20-point haul of the season.

He was unable to inspire the Pels to victory, though, as they slipped to 7-30 and 5-15 at home, having entered the game on the back of successive victories.

One standout moment saw Williamson sink a brilliant breakaway dunk that involved him rotating 360 degrees while in the air.

Asked about that moment, the two-time All-Star declared: "It's just another day at the office."

"I definitely feel like my legs are already under me," Williamson said.

"The focus I had during this rehab was a bit more extreme. I feel like I didn't even miss a beat, but gained a beat."

"It's incredible, his ability to impact the basketball game when he's on the floor," Pelicans coach Willie Green said.

"He had a little bit of rust, but that's as good as I've seen him after being out for as long as he's been. It's a credit to Zion, the work that he's been putting in."

Green added that Williamson was playing under a minutes restriction and that he was excited to see more of him playing alongside Dejounte Murray, who contributed a team-high 29 points.

"That was a fun segment," Green said of the duo's first experience on the court together. "That's a small sample size of what this team is capable of."

New Orleans, who lost 11 straight games before reeling off back-to-back victories over the Washington Wizards prior to Tuesday's game, are back in action at home to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.