San Antonio SpursOpen full analysis
New Orleans PelicansOpen full analysis
The San Antonio Spurs edged the New Orleans Pelicans 135–132 on December 8 at Smoothie King Center in a high-scoring affair that exceeded the Vegas total of 238.5 combined points. D. Queen led New Orleans with 33 points, while T. Murphy III added 32, but the Pelicans' 58% field-goal shooting and 35 assists proved insufficient. San Antonio's balanced attack saw Harrison Barnes score 24 points and D. Harper contribute 22, powered by an exceptional three-point display: the Spurs made 17 from beyond the arc despite shooting just 50% overall. The decisive factor emerged in the second quarter, when the Spurs outscored New Orleans 42–32, establishing momentum they would not relinquish. San Antonio's 43 rebounds and 17 three-pointers offset their 13 turnovers, while the Pelicans' 33 rebounds and defensive rating of 122.7 could not compensate for a fourth-quarter collapse. The Spurs' win strengthens their Western Conference positioning and demonstrates their perimeter-scoring depth as a potential playoff factor.
