Game ID: 22400818
San Antonio Spurs @ New Orleans Pelicans
Sunday, February 23, 2025 at 7:00 PM ET
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NOP 26 14 35 39 114SAS 30 23 26 17 96
NOP vs SAS ScoutingNOP vs 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.
NOP availability going into 2/10 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 14 since 1/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 30 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Boston back 1/29 after 5, 22 min since (93% of 24)
BACK Hawkins back 2/03 after 2, 19 min since (81% of 24)
BACK Matković back 1/31 after 2, 23 min since (122% of 19)
BACK Robinson-Earl back 1/31 after 2, 12 min since (63% of 19)
BACK Reeves back 2/03 after 3, 11 min since (75% of 15)
BACK Cain back 1/31 after 3, 11 min since (82% of 14)
NOP availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 15 since 1/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 31 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Boston back 2/08 after 2, 15 min since (64% of 24)
BACK Hawkins back 2/03 after 2, 21 min since (89% of 24)
BACK Matković back 1/31 after 2, 25 min since (131% of 19)
BACK Robinson-Earl back 1/31 after 2, 13 min since (69% of 19)
BACK Reeves back 2/03 after 3, 15 min since (98% of 15)
BACK Cain back 1/31 after 3, 10 min since (72% of 14)
NOP availability going into 2/13 · back-to-backOUT Jones missed 16 since 1/10, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 2 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 32 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Hawkins back 2/03 after 2, 19 min since (83% of 24)
BACK Reeves back 2/03 after 3, 15 min since (103% of 15)
NEW Matković 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 2/21 · 7 days' restOUT Jones missed 17 since 1/10, out tonight
OUT Olynyk missed 2 since 2/12, returns tonight: 24 min (93% of 25)
OUT Brooks Jr. missed 2 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 3 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 33 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 2 since 2/12, out tonight
NEW Alvarado 24 to 30 min over the last 4
NEW Matković 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 2/23 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 18 since 1/10, out tonight
OUT Brooks Jr. missed 3 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 4 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 34 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 3 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Olynyk back 2/21 after 2, 24 min since (93% of 25)
NEW Alvarado 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 19 since 1/10, out tonight
OUT Brooks Jr. missed 4 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 5 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 35 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 4 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Olynyk back 2/21 after 2, 24 min since (96% of 25)
NEW Alvarado 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 20 since 1/10, not on tonight's roster
OUT Brooks Jr. missed 5 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 6 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 36 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 5 since 2/12, returns tonight: 10 min (73% of 14)
BACK Olynyk back 2/21 after 2, 24 min since (94% of 25)
NEW Alvarado 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 2/28 · back-to-backOUT Brooks Jr. missed 6 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 7 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 37 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Olynyk back 2/21 after 2, 24 min since (94% of 25)
BACK Cain back 2/27 after 5, 10 min since (73% of 14)
NEW Matković 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 7 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 8 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 38 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Olynyk back 2/21 after 2, 25 min since (97% of 25)
BACK Cain back 2/27 after 5, 11 min since (81% of 14)
SAS availability going into 2/10 · 1 day's restOUT Wesley missed 3 since 2/05, out tonight
OUT Mamukelashvili missed 3 since 2/05, returns tonight: 7 min (63% of 11)
OUT Bassey missed 3 since 2/05, out tonight
SAS availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Wesley missed 4 since 2/05, returns tonight: 0 min (3% of 12)
OUT Bassey missed 4 since 2/05, out tonight
BACK Mamukelashvili back 2/10 after 3, 7 min since (63% of 11)
SAS availability going into 2/20 · 7 days' restOUT Bassey missed 5 since 2/05, out tonight
BACK Wesley back 2/12 after 4, 0 min since (3% of 12)
BACK Mamukelashvili back 2/10 after 3, 4 min since (33% of 11)
SAS availability going into 2/21 · back-to-backOUT Bassey missed 6 since 2/05, returns tonight: 11 min (106% of 10)
BACK Wesley back 2/12 after 4, 0 min since (3% of 12)
BACK Mamukelashvili back 2/10 after 3, 4 min since (33% of 11)
SAS availability going into 2/23 · 1 day's restBACK Wesley back 2/12 after 4, 2 min since (16% of 12)
BACK Mamukelashvili back 2/10 after 3, 10 min since (88% of 11)
BACK Bassey back 2/21 after 6, 11 min since (106% of 10)
SAS availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restBACK Wesley back 2/12 after 4, 2 min since (15% of 12)
BACK Mamukelashvili back 2/10 after 3, 9 min since (82% of 11)
BACK Bassey back 2/21 after 6, 8 min since (81% of 10)
SAS availability going into 2/26 · back-to-backBACK Wesley back 2/12 after 4, 2 min since (15% of 12)
BACK Bassey back 2/21 after 6, 8 min since (81% of 10)
SAS availability going into 3/01 · 2 days' restOUT Bassey missed 2 since 2/25, out tonight
SAS availability going into 3/02 · back-to-backOUT Bassey missed 3 since 2/25, out tonight
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Williamson at 30 and McCollum at 26 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Jones (18 straight), Brooks Jr. (3 straight), Boston (4 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Fox at 23 and Wembanyama at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest.
So: San Antonio wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, San Antonio allowing 117 a night to New Orleans's 125 and the line, where New Orleans takes 26 free throws a game to San Antonio's 21. Call it San Antonio 117, New Orleans 115, New Orleans keeping it close.
2/10 @ OKC 101-137 — NOP notes
NOP lost 101-137. NOP shot 44% (36 of 82) to OKC's 52%, 10 of 27 from three, and went to the line 28 times to OKC's 16 — 19 points from the stripe to their 12. NOP turned it over 22 times to OKC's 10, and OKC turned those into 15 steals. Murphy III led with 23 (7 of 15, 4 of 7 from three); Williamson added 17, Hawkins 12. Q3 was theirs, 28-30, but the other 3 periods went 107-73 against them. Matković's -39 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/12 vs SAC 111-119 — NOP notes
NOP lost 111-119. NOP shot 47% (44 of 94) to SAC's 47%, 8 of 32 from three, and got to the line 18 times to SAC's 29. Williamson led with 33 (13 of 18, 6 of 9 at the line); Murphy III added 19, Alvarado 18. Q2 was theirs, 37-31, the deficit cut from 8 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 88-74 against them. McCollum's -23 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/13 vs SAC 140-133 — NOP notes
NOP won 140-133 in 1 overtime. NOP shot 50% (46 of 92) to SAC's 44%, 21 of 50 from three, and went to the line 34 times to SAC's 21 — 27 points from the stripe to their 18. The glass went 45-58 against them. McCollum led with 43 (16 of 25, 7 of 12 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Murphy III added 18, Alvarado 18. The hinge was Q3, 38-30: NOP came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 3. NOP trailed 60-65 at the half and won the second half 80-68. Matković was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
2/21 @ DAL 103-111 — NOP notes
NOP lost 103-111. NOP shot 41% (38 of 92) to DAL's 43%, 8 of 27 from three. Williamson led with 29 (11 of 15, 7 of 11 at the line); Murphy III added 20, McCollum 16. Q2 was theirs, 31-24, the deficit cut from 10 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 87-72 against them. B. Brown's -20 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/23 vs SAS 114-96 — NOP notes
NOP won 114-96. NOP shot 45% (42 of 94) to SAS's 33%, 11 of 33 from three. NOP turned it over 16 times to SAS's 10, and SAS turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 69-46 for them. Williamson led with 22 (8 of 17, 6 of 10 at the line); Matković added 19, Murphy III 15. The hinge was Q4, 39-17: NOP came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 18, and the lead reached 21. NOP trailed 40-53 at the half and won the second half 74-43. Williamson was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
2/25 vs SAS — 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 114 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and McCollum at 21 a game. Without Jones (19 straight), Brooks Jr. (4 straight), Boston (5 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Fox at 24 and Johnson at 14 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-1 a night and San Antonio minus-11 and the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 14 times a game to San Antonio's 11. Call it New Orleans 116, San Antonio 115, San Antonio keeping it close.
2/27 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 127, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Booker at 26 and Durant at 25 a game. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 26 free throws a game; Williamson at 26 and McCollum at 20 a game. Without Jones (20 straight), Brooks Jr. (5 straight), Boston (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 112 a night to Phoenix's 127 and the arc, Phoenix at 39 percent from three to New Orleans's 32. Call it Phoenix 117, New Orleans 116, New Orleans keeping it close.
2/28 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 128, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Booker at 28 and Beal at 24 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Ighodaro (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Williamson at 24 and McCollum at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Brooks Jr. (6 straight), Boston (7 straight), Payton (37 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 112 a night to Phoenix's 128 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-5 a night and Phoenix minus-1. Call it Phoenix 118, New Orleans 117, New Orleans keeping it close.
3/02 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; George at 17 and Sensabaugh at 16 a game. Without Markkanen (3 straight), Hendricks (56 straight), Mykhailiuk (2 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Williamson at 24 and Murphy III at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Brooks Jr. (7 straight), Boston (8 straight), Payton (38 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 110 a night to Utah's 119 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-7 a night and Utah plus-2. Call it Utah 115, New Orleans 113, New Orleans keeping it close.
2/10 @ WAS 131-121 — SAS notes
SAS won 131-121. SAS shot 51% (45 of 88) to WAS's 48%, 17 of 38 from three, and went to the line 29 times to WAS's 19 — 24 points from the stripe to their 17. Wembanyama led with 31 (12 of 21, 5 of 8 from three); Fox added 30, Castle 16. The hinge was Q1, 40-30: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 18. Fox was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
2/12 @ BOS 103-116 — SAS notes
SAS lost 103-116. SAS shot 44% (42 of 96) to BOS's 46%, 9 of 39 from three, and got to the line 12 times to BOS's 21. SAS turned it over 8 times to BOS's 15. The glass went 38-56 against them. Fox led with 23 (10 of 16, 1 of 3 from three); Castle added 20, Wembanyama 17. Q3 was theirs, 34-27, the deficit cut from 19 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 89-69 against them. Champagnie's -13 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/20 vs PHX 120-109 — SAS notes
SAS won 120-109. SAS shot 47% (44 of 93) to PHX's 47%, 15 of 41 from three. SAS turned it over 9 times to PHX's 18. Fox led with 26 (8 of 19, 3 of 7 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Johnson added 15, Champagnie 15. The hinge was Q1, 31-21: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 16. Vassell was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
2/21 vs DET 110-125 — SAS notes
SAS lost 110-125. SAS shot 51% (43 of 84) to DET's 50%, 10 of 29 from three. The glass went 32-53 against them. Johnson led with 28 (11 of 13, 5 of 9 at the line); Fox added 27, Castle 12. Q2 was theirs, 35-27, the deficit cut from 9 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 98-75 against them. They led by as many as 10. Fox's -35 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/23 @ NOP 96-114 — SAS notes
SAS lost 96-114. SAS shot 33% (32 of 97) to NOP's 45%, 15 of 51 from three. SAS turned it over 10 times to NOP's 16. The glass went 46-69 against them. Johnson led with 18 (7 of 9, 2 of 3 from three); Champagnie added 18, Fox 13. Q2 was theirs, 23-14, but the other 3 periods went 100-73 against them. They led by as many as 17. Biyombo's -26 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/25 @ NOP — 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 114 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and McCollum at 21 a game. Without Jones (19 straight), Brooks Jr. (4 straight), Boston (5 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Fox at 24 and Johnson at 14 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-1 a night and San Antonio minus-11 and the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 14 times a game to San Antonio's 11. Call it New Orleans 116, San Antonio 115, San Antonio keeping it close.
2/26 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Sengun at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without VanVleet (10 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 115, shooting 43 percent and 30 from three, 20 free throws a game; Fox at 21 and Johnson at 15 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-5 a night and San Antonio minus-13 and the arc, Houston at 37 percent from three to San Antonio's 30. Call it Houston 114, San Antonio 109.
3/01 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 124, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 27 free throws a game; Morant at 22 and Jackson Jr. at 20 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 115, shooting 43 percent and 29 from three, 22 free throws a game; Johnson at 19 and Fox at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been minus-0 a night and San Antonio minus-13 and the defense, San Antonio allowing 115 a night to Memphis's 124. Call it Memphis 119, San Antonio 114.
3/02 vs OKC — 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 109 a night and allowing 119, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 22 free throws a game; Johnson at 19 and Fox at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 14 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 130 a night and allowing 120, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 31 and Jal. Williams at 21 a game. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where OKC has been minus-1 a night and San Antonio minus-14 and the arc, OKC at 41 percent from three to San Antonio's 30. Call it OKC 120, San Antonio 113.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SASBB B. Biyombo
CB C. Bassey
CP C. Paul
DF D. Fox
DV D. Vassell
HB H. Barnes
JC J. Champagnie
JM J. McLaughlin
JS J. Sochan
KJ K. Johnson
MB M. Branham
SC S. Castle
SM S. Mamukelashvili
WE Wesley
NOPAR A. Reeves
BB B. Brown
CM C. McCollum
JA J. Alvarado
JH J. Hawkins
JR J. Robinson-Earl
KM K. Matković
KO K. Olynyk
MA Matkovic
TM T. Murphy III
YM Y. Missi
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
Zion Williamson powers the Pelicans to a 114-96 comeback victory over the Spurs
NEW ORLEANS -- — Zion Williamson had 22 points and nine rebounds and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 17-point deficit to beat the San Antonio Spurs 114-96 on Sunday night to open a two-game set.
The teams will meet again in New Orleans on Tuesday night.
Kelly Olynyk had 14 points and 15 rebounds — his first double-double since the Toronto Raptors sent him to New Orleans as part of a trade for Brandon Ingram .
Rookie center Yves Missi grabbed career-high 15 rebounds, fellow rookie center Karlo Matkovic scored a career-high 19 points, wing Trey Murphy III scored 15 points and reserve guard Jose Alvarado added 12 points for the Pelicans. They've won two of their past three games since snapping a 10-gme skid just before the NBA All-Star break.
Julian Champagnie tied a career high with six 3s as he and Keldon Johnson each scored 18 points for San Antonio.
De'Aaron Fox and Harrison Barnes each scored 13 points for the Spurs, who led 50-33 when Barnes hit a 3 with 5:07 left in the second quarter.
Takeaways Spurs: San Antonio fell to 1-2 in three games since French star Victor Wembanyama was lost for the season because of a blood clot in his right shoulder.
Pelicans: When New Orleans woke up in the third quarter, they dominated, outscoring the Spurs 51-22 during the final 14:12 of the game. Meanwhile, rookie centers Missi and Matkovic combined for 25 points and 21 rebounds.
Key moment Williamson’s layup as he was fouled by Johnson in the fourth quarter gave the Pelicans their first lead since the first quarter. The basket was part of a decisive 25-5 run — including a 15-2 run to open the fourth quarter — that put the Pelicans up for good at 88-79.
Key stat Poor shooting doomed the Spurs, who went 32 of 97 (33%) overall and 15 of 51 (29.4%) from 3-point range.