Game ID: 22300345
New Orleans Pelicans @ San Antonio Spurs
Sunday, December 17, 2023 at 3:30 PM ET
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAS 20 31 27 32 110NOP 33 28 44 41 146
NOP @ SAS ScoutingNOP @ SAS Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
SAS availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 3 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 6 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Champagnie back 11/26 after 2, 16 min since (79% of 20)
BACK McDermott back 12/06 after 2, 22 min since (145% of 15)
BACK Wesley back 12/01 after 6, 3 min since (19% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 12/01 after 3, 3 min since (22% of 13)
NEW Collins 22 to 27 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restOUT Wesley missed 2 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Graham missed 4 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 2 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 7 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Bassey missed 2 since 12/06, not on tonight's roster
BACK Champagnie back 11/26 after 2, 14 min since (69% of 20)
BACK McDermott back 12/06 after 2, 18 min since (121% of 15)
SAS availability going into 12/13 · 1 day's restOUT Wesley missed 3 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Graham missed 5 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 3 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 8 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK McDermott back 12/06 after 2, 17 min since (114% of 15)
SAS availability going into 12/15 · 1 day's restOUT Wesley missed 4 since 12/06, returns tonight: 2 min (12% of 14)
OUT Graham missed 6 since 11/30, returns tonight: 10 min (71% of 14)
OUT Barlow missed 4 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 9 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK McDermott back 12/06 after 2, 17 min since (110% of 15)
SAS availability going into 12/17 · 1 day's restOUT Barlow missed 5 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 10 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK McDermott back 12/06 after 2, 17 min since (111% of 15)
BACK Wesley back 12/15 after 4, 2 min since (12% of 14)
BACK Graham back 12/15 after 6, 10 min since (71% of 14)
SAS availability going into 12/19 · 1 day's restOUT Barlow missed 6 since 12/06, returns tonight: 10 min (83% of 13)
OUT Cissoko missed 11 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Wesley back 12/15 after 4, 2 min since (12% of 14)
BACK Graham back 12/15 after 6, 8 min since (61% of 14)
NEW Branham 21 to 30 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT Wesley missed 2 since 12/17, returns tonight: 3 min (19% of 14)
OUT Cissoko missed 12 since 11/22, returns tonight: 3 min (24% of 12)
BACK Graham back 12/15 after 6, 8 min since (61% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 12/19 after 6, 10 min since (83% of 13)
NEW Branham 21 to 30 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 2 since 12/19, returns tonight: 8 min (61% of 14)
BACK Wesley back 12/15 after 4, 2 min since (16% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 12/19 after 6, 10 min since (83% of 13)
BACK Cissoko back 12/21 after 12, 3 min since (24% of 12)
NEW Branham 21 to 29 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Barlow missed 2 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Wesley back 12/15 after 4, 6 min since (38% of 14)
BACK Graham back 12/15 after 6, 8 min since (61% of 14)
BACK Cissoko back 12/21 after 12, 9 min since (74% of 12)
NEW Branham 21 to 29 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/07 · 2 days' restOUT Nance Jr. missed 4 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 9 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK McCollum back 11/29 after 12, 34 min since (103% of 33)
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Hawkins 17 to 22 min over the last 4
NOP availability going into 12/11 · 3 days' restOUT Nance Jr. missed 5 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 10 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK McCollum back 11/29 after 12, 32 min since (97% of 33)
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 30 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/13 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 6 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 11 since 11/20, out tonight
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 31 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/15 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 7 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 12 since 11/20, out tonight
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 31 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/17 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 8 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 13 since 11/20, out tonight
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 32 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/19 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 9 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 14 since 11/20, out tonight
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 30 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 10 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 15 since 11/20, out tonight
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 32 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 11 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 16 since 11/20, out tonight
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 31 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Nance Jr. missed 12 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 17 since 11/20, out tonight
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 29 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 111, shooting 43 percent and 32 from three, 19 free throws a game; Johnson at 20 and Vassell at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 29 free throws a game; Ingram at 21 and Williamson at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Nance Jr. (8 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where New Orleans takes 29 free throws a game to San Antonio's 19 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-2 a night and San Antonio minus-5. Call it New Orleans 115, San Antonio 113, San Antonio keeping it close.
12/08 vs CHI 112-121 — SAS notes
SAS lost 112-121. SAS shot 47% (39 of 83) to CHI's 46%, 17 of 42 from three. SAS turned it over 12 times to CHI's 7, and CHI turned those into 9 steals. The glass went 44-56 against them. Wembanyama led with 21 (8 of 20, 0 of 4 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Johnson added 20, Jones 18. Q1 was theirs, 33-24, but the other 3 periods went 97-79 against them. They led by as many as 13. Wembanyama's -22 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/11 @ HOU 82-93 — SAS notes
SAS lost 82-93. SAS shot 36% (31 of 87) to HOU's 34%, 5 of 41 from three. Wembanyama led with 15 (7 of 15, 1 of 6 from three); Vassell added 14, Branham 13. Q1 was theirs, 21-19, but the other 3 periods went 74-61 against them. Johnson's -18 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/13 vs LAL 119-122 — SAS notes
SAS lost 119-122. SAS shot 47% (45 of 96) to LAL's 54%, 16 of 37 from three. Wembanyama led with 30 (11 of 21, 4 of 5 from three, 4 of 7 at the line); Johnson added 28, Branham 19. Q4 was theirs, 45-30, the deficit cut from 18 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 92-74 against them.
12/15 vs LAL 129-115 — SAS notes
SAS won 129-115. SAS shot 49% (47 of 95) to LAL's 48%, 18 of 42 from three, and got to the line 19 times to LAL's 28. Vassell led with 36 (12 of 19, 5 of 10 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Johnson added 17, Collins 16. The hinge was Q1, 42-22: from level to 20 ahead, and the lead reached 25. Sochan was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
12/17 vs NOP 110-146 — SAS notes
SAS lost 110-146. SAS shot 43% (40 of 94) to NOP's 56%, 15 of 42 from three. The glass went 39-51 against them. Wembanyama led with 17 (6 of 13, 2 of 6 from three); Champagnie added 15, Osman 14. Q2 was theirs, 31-28, the deficit cut from 13 to 10, but the other 3 periods went 118-79 against them. Johnson's -30 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/19 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 133 a night and allowing 123, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 35 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 36 and Lillard at 26 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Beasley (2 straight), Crowder (17 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 119, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 19 and Johnson at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the line, where Milwaukee takes 35 free throws a game to San Antonio's 20 and the glass, where Milwaukee has been plus-4 a night and San Antonio minus-6. Call it Milwaukee 126, San Antonio 115, Milwaukee by 11.
12/21 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; White at 23 and DeRozan at 21 a game. Without LaVine (10 straight), Craig (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; Johnson at 20 and Wembanyama at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the arc, Chicago at 41 percent from three to San Antonio's 33 and the defense, Chicago allowing 112 a night to San Antonio's 122. Call it Chicago 118, San Antonio 111.
12/23 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 122, shooting 44 percent and 28 from three, 22 free throws a game; Dončić at 36 and Hardaway Jr. at 16 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Irving (7 straight), Green (10 straight), Lively II (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 126, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Vassell at 20 and Johnson at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the arc, San Antonio at 38 percent from three to Dallas's 28 and the glass, where San Antonio has been plus-0 a night and Dallas minus-7. Call it Dallas 119, San Antonio 116, San Antonio keeping it close.
12/26 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 130, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Vassell at 19 and Johnson at 17 a game. That is 4 straight losses. 2 days' rest. Utah comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Markkanen at 24 and Sexton at 22 a game. Without George (6 straight), Horton-Tucker (2 straight), Juzang (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Utah wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Utah allowing 117 a night to San Antonio's 130 and the arc, Utah at 40 percent from three to San Antonio's 35. Call it Utah 120, San Antonio 117, San Antonio keeping it close.
12/07 @ LAL 89-133 — NOP notes
NOP lost 89-133. NOP took 9 more shots (95 to 86), fed by 12 offensive rebounds, but shot 36% to LAL's 55%, 7 of 31 from three, and got to the line 20 times to LAL's 29. The glass went 42-59 against them. Murphy III led with 14 (5 of 13, 2 of 7 from three); Williamson added 13, Jones 10. Q1 was theirs, 30-29, but the other 3 periods went 104-59 against them. McCollum's -38 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/11 vs MIN 121-107 — NOP notes
NOP won 121-107. NOP shot 49% (40 of 82) to MIN's 44%, 10 of 27 from three, and went to the line 40 times to MIN's 19 — 31 points from the stripe to their 14. Williamson led with 36 (13 of 17, 10 of 12 at the line); McCollum added 23, Ingram 20. The hinge was Q4, 31-21: a lead of 4 became 14, and the lead reached 17. Williamson was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
12/13 @ WAS 142-122 — NOP notes
NOP won 142-122. NOP shot 52% (50 of 96) to WAS's 51%, 16 of 34 from three, and went to the line 30 times to WAS's 24 — 26 points from the stripe to their 19. NOP turned it over 9 times to WAS's 15. The glass went 46-33 for them. Ingram led with 40 (14 of 23, 1 of 4 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Murphy III added 27, McCollum 22. The hinge was Q2, 47-34: NOP came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 11, and the lead reached 28. Murphy III was the night's best plus/minus at +43.
12/15 @ CHA 112-107 — NOP notes
NOP won 112-107. NOP shot 48% (38 of 80) to CHA's 45%, 9 of 27 from three, and went to the line 32 times to CHA's 21 — 27 points from the stripe to their 16. NOP turned it over 15 times to CHA's 8. The glass went 49-39 for them. Valančiūnas led with 29 (11 of 16, 2 of 4 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Williamson added 21, McCollum 19. The hinge was Q2, 29-19: a lead of 1 became 11.
12/17 @ SAS 146-110 — NOP notes
NOP won 146-110. NOP shot 56% (55 of 98) to SAS's 43%, 22 of 42 from three. The glass went 51-39 for them. McCollum led with 29 (10 of 15, 6 of 7 from three); Ingram added 26, Alvarado 16. The hinge was Q3, 44-27: a lead of 10 became 27, and the lead reached 40. Marshall was the night's best plus/minus at +32.
12/19 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 29 free throws a game; Williamson at 21 and Ingram at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Nance Jr. (9 straight). One day's rest. Memphis comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 117, shooting 41 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 28 and Bane at 22 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Morant (25 straight), Smart (14 straight), Kennard (14 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-4 a night and Memphis minus-12 and the line, where New Orleans takes 29 free throws a game to Memphis's 21. Call it New Orleans 119, Memphis 107, New Orleans by 12.
12/21 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 18 free throws a game; Mitchell at 30 and Merrill at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Garland (3 straight), Eva. Mobley (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 112, shooting 51 percent and 44 from three, 30 free throws a game; Ingram at 26 and McCollum at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Nance Jr. (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where New Orleans takes 30 free throws a game to Cleveland's 18 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-6 a night and Cleveland minus-1. Call it New Orleans 119, Cleveland 115, Cleveland keeping it close.
12/23 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 112, shooting 52 percent and 45 from three, 25 free throws a game; Ingram at 25 and McCollum at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Nance Jr. (11 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; VanVleet at 21 and Sengun at 19 a game. Without Eason (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 45 percent from three to Houston's 38 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-7 a night and Houston plus-1. Call it New Orleans 119, Houston 113.
12/26 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 108, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 25 free throws a game; Ingram at 21 and McCollum at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Nance Jr. (12 straight). 2 days' rest. Memphis comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Morant at 28 and Bane at 27 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Smart (17 straight), Jackson (3 straight), Kennard (17 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 41 percent from three to Memphis's 35 and the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 17 times a game to New Orleans's 13. Call it New Orleans 116, Memphis 108.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SASCO C. Osman
DG D. Graham
DM D. McDermott
DV D. Vassell
JC J. Champagnie
JS J. Sochan
KJ K. Johnson
MB M. Branham
SM S. Mamukelashvili
TJ T. Jones
VW V. Wembanyama
ZC Z. Collins
NOPBI B. Ingram
CM C. McCollum
CZ C. Zeller
DD D. Daniels
HJ H. Jones
JA J. Alvarado
JH J. Hawkins
JR J. Robinson-Earl
JV J. Valančiūnas
NM N. Marshall
TM T. Murphy III
VA Valanciunas
ZW Z. Williamson
SAS/NOP the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Pelicans set franchise record with 22 3-pointers, roll past Wembanyama, Spurs 146-110
SAN ANTONIO -- — CJ McCollum scored 29 points, Brandon Ingram added 26 and the New Orleans Pelicans set a franchise record with 22 3-pointers in rolling past Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs 146-110 on Sunday.
It marked the fourth time the Spurs have lost by 36 points or more this season after seven such losses last season under Gregg Popovich.
“They had a great night shooting. We couldn’t throw it in the ocean," Popovich said. "But on top of shooting well, they played very well. We weren’t as sharp as we needed to be and got whooped, real good.”
Wembanyama was one of the few highlights.
He had 17 points and 13 rebounds in front of former San Antonio All-Star Tony Parker, his childhood idol in France and later mentor. Wembanyama’s eighth consecutive double-double surpassed the previous NBA record by a teenager of seven straight set by Dwight Howard in 2005.
The Spurs unveiled a Hall of Fame designation on Parker’s retired jersey during a halftime ceremony. Parker was inducted in August along with San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich and former Spurs assistant Becky Hammon, along with Pau Gasol, Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki.
Parker’s ceremony was the only time Spurs fans at the Frost Bank Center were able to have a sustained celebration Sunday.
Wembanyama kept his right arm aloft after draining a 3-pointer that cut New Orleans’ advantage to 58-49 with 53 seconds remaining in first half. Ingram silenced the crowd nine seconds later with his own 3.
It was a response the Pelicans had all game. New Orleans was 22 for 42 on 3-pointers.
The Pelicans have won four straight since losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the semifinals of the In-Season Tournament.
“We’re winning,” Zion Williamson said. “Winning cures everything.”
The Spurs lost two days after snapping a franchise-record, 18-game skid with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. San Antonio is 2-19 since Nov. 1 and 4-20 overall, the worst in the Western Conference and above only Detroit (2-24) in the league.
San Antonio has the youngest roster in the league, but its youngest player said consistency is a bigger factor.
“It might explain it, but it doesn’t mean it’s OK,” Wembanyama said. “We’re not trying to find any excuses. Any team’s goal is to try to be consistent. We’re underway, but there’s no excuses.”
Wembanyama made his first two shots, a sweeping hook on a drive past Ingram and a two-handed dunk.
The Pelicans missed their first five attempts, including a breakaway dunk that Williamson fumbled out of bounds as he rose to the rim. Williamson smiled and shook his head from the time he lost the ball until he jogged back defensively.
The good fortune didn’t last for the Spurs.
The Pelicans went on a 12-2 run and built a 20-point lead in the first half. The Spurs have trailed by 20 points in eight games this season, losing all but one.
“Obviously, the first five minutes, we were playing great and then we kind of lost our energy,” the Spurs' Cedi Osman said. “I think that it was just their day, I would say.”
Williamson finished with 15 points.
“Our mentality is to go out there and take care of our jobs,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “It starts with the defense for us, making sure we contest shots and finish possessions.”