Game ID: 22300696
New Orleans Pelicans @ San Antonio Spurs
Friday, February 2, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAS 33 32 23 25 113NOP 24 34 30 26 114
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 1/26 · 1 day's restOUT Barlow missed 3 since 1/20, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 12 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Collins back 1/19 after 9, 21 min since (94% of 22)
BACK Graham back 1/17 after 2, 5 min since (35% of 14)
SAS availability going into 1/27 · back-to-backOUT Barlow missed 4 since 1/20, returns tonight: 18 min (143% of 13)
OUT Cissoko missed 13 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Collins back 1/19 after 9, 20 min since (92% of 22)
BACK Graham back 1/24 after 3, 5 min since (35% of 14)
NEW Wesley 14 to 20 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Branham missed 2 since 1/26, out tonight
OUT Graham missed 2 since 1/26, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 14 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Barlow back 1/27 after 4, 18 min since (143% of 13)
NEW Wesley 14 to 21 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Collins missed 2 since 1/27, out tonight
OUT Branham missed 3 since 1/26, returns tonight: 15 min (72% of 21)
OUT Graham missed 3 since 1/26, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 15 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Barlow back 1/27 after 4, 16 min since (128% of 13)
NEW Wesley 14 to 20 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 2/02 · 1 day's restOUT Collins missed 3 since 1/27, returns tonight: 20 min (89% of 22)
OUT Graham missed 4 since 1/26, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 16 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Branham back 1/31 after 3, 15 min since (72% of 21)
BACK Barlow back 1/27 after 4, 17 min since (133% of 13)
SAS availability going into 2/03 · back-to-backOUT Johnson missed 2 since 1/31, returns tonight: 22 min (75% of 30)
OUT Graham missed 5 since 1/26, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 17 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Collins back 2/02 after 3, 20 min since (89% of 22)
BACK Branham back 1/31 after 3, 16 min since (73% of 21)
BACK Barlow back 1/27 after 4, 17 min since (133% of 13)
SAS availability going into 2/07 · 3 days' restOUT Graham missed 6 since 1/26, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 2 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 18 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 2/03 after 2, 22 min since (75% of 30)
BACK Collins back 2/02 after 3, 20 min since (90% of 22)
BACK Branham back 1/31 after 3, 14 min since (64% of 21)
SAS availability going into 2/08 · back-to-backOUT Graham missed 7 since 1/26, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 3 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 19 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 2/03 after 2, 23 min since (79% of 30)
BACK Collins back 2/02 after 3, 19 min since (85% of 22)
BACK Branham back 1/31 after 3, 12 min since (58% of 21)
NEW Osman 18 to 23 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 2/10 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 8 since 1/26, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 4 since 2/02, returns tonight: 12 min (94% of 13)
OUT Cissoko missed 20 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 2/03 after 2, 24 min since (80% of 30)
BACK Collins back 2/02 after 3, 21 min since (93% of 22)
BACK Branham back 1/31 after 3, 14 min since (65% of 21)
NOP availability going into 1/26 · 2 days' restOUT Ryan missed 31 since 11/20, out tonight
NEW Hawkins 17 to 23 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 1/27 · back-to-backOUT Ryan missed 32 since 11/20, out tonight
NOP availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Ryan missed 33 since 11/20, out tonight
NOP availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Ryan missed 34 since 11/20, out tonight
NOP availability going into 2/02 · 1 day's restOUT Ryan missed 35 since 11/20, out tonight
NOP availability going into 2/05 · 2 days' restOUT Jones missed 2 since 1/31, returns tonight: 22 min (73% of 31)
OUT Ryan missed 36 since 11/20, out tonight
NOP availability going into 2/07 · 1 day's restOUT Ryan missed 37 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Jones back 2/05 after 2, 22 min since (73% of 31)
NOP availability going into 2/09 · 1 day's restOUT Ryan missed 38 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Jones back 2/05 after 2, 26 min since (86% of 31)
NOP availability going into 2/10 · back-to-backOUT Marshall missed 2 since 2/07, returns tonight: 18 min (92% of 19)
OUT Ryan missed 39 since 11/20, returns tonight: 5 min (36% of 14)
BACK Jones back 2/05 after 2, 27 min since (88% of 31)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 23 and Vassell at 22 a game. Without Collins (3 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Williamson at 22 and Ingram at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-8 a night and San Antonio plus-1. Call it New Orleans 116, San Antonio 115, San Antonio keeping it close.
1/26 vs POR 116-100 — SAS notes
SAS won 116-100. SAS shot 46% (42 of 92) to POR's 42%, 10 of 34 from three, and went to the line 26 times to POR's 19 — 22 points from the stripe to their 14. The glass went 59-37 for them. Sochan led with 31 (12 of 20, 4 of 7 from three); Wembanyama added 23, Johnson 21. The hinge was Q2, 36-24: SAS came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 5, and the lead reached 18. Jones was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
1/27 vs MIN 113-112 — SAS notes
SAS won 113-112. SAS shot 55% (46 of 84) to MIN's 57%, 13 of 30 from three. Vassell led with 25 (11 of 17, 3 of 6 from three); Wembanyama added 23, Johnson 14. The hinge was Q4, 33-22: SAS came in trailing by 10 and left it ahead by 1. SAS trailed 52-64 at the half and won the second half 61-48. Wembanyama was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
1/29 vs WAS 113-118 — SAS notes
SAS lost 113-118. SAS shot 47% (43 of 92) to WAS's 53%, 12 of 30 from three, and got to the line 17 times to WAS's 24. Vassell led with 24 (9 of 19, 1 of 5 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Wembanyama added 22, Osman 20. Q1 was theirs, 35-25, but the other 3 periods went 93-78 against them. They led by as many as 14.
1/31 vs ORL 98-108 — SAS notes
SAS lost 98-108. SAS shot 45% (36 of 80) to ORL's 48%, 9 of 31 from three. Vassell led with 26 (8 of 18, 3 of 8 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Wembanyama added 21, Sochan 18. Q4 was theirs, 26-17, the deficit cut from 19 to 10, but the other 3 periods went 91-72 against them. They led by as many as 11. Vassell's -16 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/02 vs NOP 113-114 — SAS notes
SAS lost 113-114. SAS shot 48% (46 of 96) to NOP's 48%, 10 of 39 from three. SAS turned it over 18 times to NOP's 9, and NOP turned those into 14 steals. The glass went 55-39 for them. Vassell led with 28 (11 of 21, 5 of 10 from three); Jones added 20, Wembanyama 16. Q1 was theirs, 33-24, but the other 3 periods went 90-80 against them. They led by as many as 12.
2/03 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; Vassell at 24 and Wembanyama at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Johnson (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Mitchell at 31 and Allen at 19 a game. That is 4 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where San Antonio has been plus-6 a night and Cleveland plus-1 and the turnovers, San Antonio giving it away 16 times a game to Cleveland's 12. Call it Cleveland 115, San Antonio 112, San Antonio keeping it close.
2/07 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 105, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Butler III at 25 and Herro at 15 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Jović (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Vassell at 25 and Wembanyama at 20 a game. That is 4 straight losses. 3 days' rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 105 a night to San Antonio's 114 and the turnovers, San Antonio giving it away 15 times a game to Miami's 11. Call it Miami 114, San Antonio 108.
2/08 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Banchero at 25 and F. Wagner at 22 a game. One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 19 free throws a game; Vassell at 24 and Wembanyama at 19 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the arc, Orlando at 38 percent from three to San Antonio's 31. Call it Orlando 116, San Antonio 108.
2/10 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 17 free throws a game; Thomas at 23 and Bridges at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Finney-Smith (6 straight), Cam. Johnson (2 straight), Walker IV (2 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 30 from three, 19 free throws a game; Vassell at 25 and Wembanyama at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: Brooklyn wins, and the game turns on the glass, where San Antonio has been plus-1 a night and Brooklyn minus-9 and the arc, Brooklyn at 37 percent from three to San Antonio's 30. Call it Brooklyn 117, San Antonio 112.
1/26 vs OKC 83-107 — NOP notes
NOP lost 83-107. NOP shot 39% (32 of 82) to OKC's 48%, 9 of 36 from three. NOP turned it over 20 times to OKC's 11, and OKC turned those into 11 steals. Jones led with 14 (6 of 12, 2 of 7 from three); Valančiūnas added 14, McCollum 12. Q1 was theirs, 24-22, but the other 3 periods went 85-59 against them. McCollum's -20 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/27 @ MIL 117-141 — NOP notes
NOP lost 117-141. NOP shot 47% (40 of 85) to MIL's 56%, 9 of 23 from three, and went to the line 36 times to MIL's 25 — 28 points from the stripe to their 19. NOP turned it over 14 times to MIL's 9, and MIL turned those into 12 steals. Ingram led with 26 (9 of 18, 6 of 8 at the line); Williamson added 23, Valančiūnas 13. Q4 was theirs, 30-29, the deficit cut from 25 to 24, but the other 3 periods went 112-87 against them. McCollum's -30 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/29 @ BOS 112-118 — NOP notes
NOP lost 112-118. NOP shot 51% (46 of 91) to BOS's 51%, 10 of 35 from three, and got to the line 13 times to BOS's 20. Ingram led with 28 (12 of 24, 2 of 8 from three); Williamson added 26, McCollum 16. Q1 was theirs, 36-25, but the other 3 periods went 93-76 against them. They led by as many as 17. Nance Jr.'s -12 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/31 @ HOU 110-99 — NOP notes
NOP won 110-99. NOP shot 50% (41 of 82) to HOU's 40%, 11 of 34 from three, and went to the line 24 times to HOU's 17 — 17 points from the stripe to their 16. NOP turned it over 16 times to HOU's 5, and HOU turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 56-29 for them. Valančiūnas led with 25 (10 of 15, 5 of 9 at the line); Ingram added 24, McCollum 19. The hinge was Q1, 33-25: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 20. Hawkins was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
2/02 @ SAS 114-113 — NOP notes
NOP won 114-113. NOP shot 48% (46 of 95) to SAS's 48%, 7 of 26 from three. NOP turned it over 9 times to SAS's 18. The glass went 39-55 against them. Williamson led with 33 (12 of 21, 9 of 13 at the line); McCollum added 21, Ingram 19. The hinge was Q3, 30-23: NOP came in trailing by 7 and left it level. NOP trailed 58-65 at the half and won the second half 56-48. Daniels was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
2/05 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 30 from three, 22 free throws a game; Williamson at 27 and Ingram at 22 a game. Without Jones (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Toronto comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 126, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Barnes at 21 and Trent Jr. at 16 a game. Without Freeman-Liberty (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the arc, Toronto at 38 percent from three to New Orleans's 30 and the defense, New Orleans allowing 116 a night to Toronto's 126. Call it New Orleans 119, Toronto 113.
2/07 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 118, shooting 51 percent and 44 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 31 and Harden at 18 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Tucker (33 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Ingram at 28 and Williamson at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 44 percent from three to New Orleans's 34 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-4 a night and the Clippers minus-1. Call it the Clippers 119, New Orleans 115, New Orleans keeping it close.
2/09 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; James at 24 and Davis at 23 a game. They have lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Reddish (8 straight), Vanderbilt (3 straight), Vincent (25 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 107, shooting 51 percent and 34 from three, 17 free throws a game; Ingram at 25 and Williamson at 24 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-5 a night and the Lakers minus-4 and the defense, New Orleans allowing 107 a night to the Lakers' 116. Call it New Orleans 117, the Lakers 113, the Lakers keeping it close.
2/10 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Grant at 31 and Simons at 25 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Sharpe (14 straight), Brogdon (2 straight), Rupert (4 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 111, shooting 51 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and Ingram at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Marshall (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New Orleans wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-7 a night and Portland minus-3. Call it New Orleans 116, Portland 114, Portland keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SASBW B. Wesley
CO C. Osman
DM D. McDermott
DV D. Vassell
JC J. Champagnie
JS J. Sochan
MB M. Branham
TJ T. Jones
VW V. Wembanyama
ZC Z. Collins
NOPBI B. Ingram
CM C. McCollum
CZ C. Zeller
DD D. Daniels
JA J. Alvarado
JH J. Hawkins
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
Williamson caps 33-point outing with winning layup as Pelicans overcome Spurs 114-113
SAN ANTONIO -- — Zion Williamson had 33 points, including the winning layup over Victor Wembanyama and two other defenders with 3.8 seconds left, and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the San Antonio Spurs 114-113 on Friday night.
“I don’t know how he made it,” New Orleans guard Jose Alvarado said. “He’s going down full speed. Three guys at home with him, full speed. Wemby was there. That was one of the guys. Amazing shot blocker and he still gets it off high off the glass.”
Williamson shot 12 for 21 from the field and had four points in the final 29 seconds as New Orleans won its second straight to finish its road trip 2-2.
Wembanyama had blocked Williamson two possessions earlier, but the No. 1 pick in 2019 by New Orleans was not about to let this year’s top selection do it again. Williamson charged at Jeremy Sochan and Devin Vassell and stayed a step ahead of Wembanyama.
“I just trust my game,” Williamson said. “In that situation, transition, I can get downhill really well.”
C.J. McCollum added 21 points and Brandon Ingram had 19 for the Pelicans.
Devin Vassell had 28 points, but missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer for San Antonio.
“We’d rather throw it the rim and go dunk it, but that’s the shot we got,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of Vassell’s missed 3.
Jeremy Sochan finished with 15 points and 16 rebounds, Wembanyama added 16 points and 12 rebounds and Tre Jones had 20 points for the Spurs.
San Antonio is 2-4 entering the finale of a seven-game homestand Saturday against Cleveland. The Spurs open their annual three-week road trip Wednesday in Miami as the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo occupies the Frost Bank Center.
San Antonio was unable to overcome 18 turnovers, including three while inbounding.
One highlight for the Spurs came when Wembanyama completed a three-point play after throwing in a runner from behind the backboard in the final seconds of the first half.
“Victor is a very special player,” Williamson said. “We were just talking about it in the locker room. He’s a dude that can get two or three Defensive Player of the Year (awards). I don’t want to put no limit on it, but he can get Defensive Player of Years and MVPs. We haven’t seen nothing like that. We’ve seen things close, but not like that.”
Wembanyama finished 7 for 14 from the field but took only two shots while playing 9:51 in the final quarter. He did not touch the ball on the Spurs’ final possession.
New Orleans had six players score eight or more points in a balanced effort to overcome Wembanyama and an electric game by Sochan.
With his dyed blonde hair and frenetic energy, Sochan brought back memories of former Spurs forward Dennis Rodman . After missing a follow layup, Sochan tore the ball from Murphy’s hands and charged the rim for a reverse layup.
In the third quarter, Sochan followed Wembanyama’s missed scoop layup with a two-handed dunk.
“He's playing great right now," Vassell said. "I love when he's aggressive.”