Game ID: 22500188
New Orleans Pelicans @ San Antonio Spurs
Saturday, November 8, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAS 28 38 26 34 126NOP 22 36 27 34 119
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 10/30 · 2 days' restOUT Kornet missed 2 since 10/26, out tonight
NEW Barnes 22 to 30 min over the last 4
SAS availability going into 11/02 · 2 days' restOUT Kornet missed 3 since 10/26, out tonight
NEW Barnes 22 to 30 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 11/05 · 2 days' restOUT Kornet missed 4 since 10/26, out tonight
NEW Barnes 22 to 30 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 11/07 · 1 day's restOUT Kornet missed 5 since 10/26, out tonight
NEW Barnes 22 to 29 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 11/08 · back-to-backOUT Harper missed 2 since 11/05, out tonight
OUT Kornet missed 6 since 10/26, out tonight
OUT Bryant missed 2 since 11/05, returns tonight: 6 min (51% of 11)
NEW Barnes 22 to 31 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 11/10 · 1 day's restOUT Harper missed 3 since 11/05, out tonight
OUT Kornet missed 7 since 10/26, returns tonight: 20 min (106% of 19)
BACK Bryant back 11/08 after 2, 6 min since (51% of 11)
NEW Barnes 22 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Sochan 13 to 19 min over the last 3
SAS availability going into 11/12 · 1 day's restOUT Harper missed 4 since 11/05, out tonight
BACK Kornet back 11/10 after 7, 20 min since (106% of 19)
BACK Bryant back 11/08 after 2, 5 min since (43% of 11)
NEW Barnes 22 to 30 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 11/14 · 1 day's restOUT Harper missed 5 since 11/05, out tonight
BACK Kornet back 11/10 after 7, 21 min since (112% of 19)
BACK Bryant back 11/08 after 2, 5 min since (43% of 11)
NEW Barnes 22 to 30 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 11/16 · 1 day's restOUT Harper missed 6 since 11/05, out tonight
OUT Bryant missed 2 since 11/12, returns tonight: 7 min (61% of 11)
BACK Kornet back 11/10 after 7, 20 min since (105% of 19)
NEW Wembanyama 30 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Barnes 22 to 30 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 10/31 · 1 day's restOUT Alexander missed 3 since 10/24, out tonight
BACK Peavy back 10/27 after 2, 6 min since (37% of 15)
NEW Poole 24 to 32 min over the last 4
NOP availability going into 11/02 · 1 day's restOUT Alexander missed 4 since 10/24, out tonight
BACK Peavy back 10/27 after 2, 6 min since (37% of 15)
NEW Poole 24 to 32 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 11/04 · 1 day's restOUT Jordan missed 2 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 5 since 10/24, out tonight
BACK Peavy back 10/27 after 2, 6 min since (40% of 15)
NEW Poole 24 to 31 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 11/05 · back-to-backOUT Jordan missed 3 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 6 since 10/24, out tonight
BACK Peavy back 10/27 after 2, 6 min since (40% of 15)
NOP availability going into 11/08 · 2 days' restOUT Williamson missed 2 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT McGowens missed 2 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Missi missed 2 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 4 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 7 since 10/24, out tonight
NOP availability going into 11/10 · 1 day's restOUT Williamson missed 3 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Poole missed 2 since 11/05, out tonight
OUT McGowens missed 3 since 11/04, returns tonight: 5 min (25% of 21)
OUT Missi missed 3 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 5 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 8 since 10/24, out tonight
NOP availability going into 11/12 · 1 day's restOUT Williamson missed 4 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Poole missed 3 since 11/05, out tonight
OUT Missi missed 4 since 11/04, returns tonight: 2 min (10% of 20)
OUT Jordan missed 6 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 9 since 10/24, out tonight
BACK McGowens back 11/10 after 3, 5 min since (25% of 21)
NOP availability going into 11/14 · 1 day's restOUT Williamson missed 5 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Poole missed 4 since 11/05, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 7 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 10 since 10/24, out tonight
BACK McGowens back 11/10 after 3, 5 min since (25% of 21)
BACK Missi back 11/12 after 4, 2 min since (10% of 20)
NEW Jones 28 to 34 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 11/16 · 1 day's restOUT Williamson missed 6 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Poole missed 5 since 11/05, out tonight
OUT McGowens missed 2 since 11/12, returns tonight: 13 min (60% of 21)
OUT Jordan missed 8 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 11 since 10/24, out tonight
BACK Missi back 11/12 after 4, 6 min since (31% of 20)
NEW Jones 28 to 34 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 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 29 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 20 and Castle at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Harper (2 straight), Kornet (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 119, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Williamson at 20 and Poole at 15 a game. Without Williamson (2 straight), McGowens (2 straight), Missi (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the glass, where San Antonio has been plus-6 a night and New Orleans minus-3 and the defense, San Antonio allowing 112 a night to New Orleans's 119. Call it San Antonio 119, New Orleans 109, San Antonio by 10.
10/30 vs MIA 107-101 — SAS notes
SAS won 107-101. SAS shot 44% (38 of 86) to MIA's 43%, 14 of 41 from three, and went to the line 23 times to MIA's 11 — 17 points from the stripe to their 8. Wembanyama led with 27 (10 of 23, 1 of 5 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Castle added 21, Vassell 17. The hinge was Q3, 28-14: a lead of 1 became 15. Champagnie was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
11/02 @ PHX 118-130 — SAS notes
SAS lost 118-130. SAS took 19 more shots (98 to 79), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 46% to PHX's 58%, 10 of 41 from three. SAS turned it over 14 times to PHX's 20. Castle led with 26 (10 of 16, 2 of 5 from three); Johnson added 19, Barnes 13. Q4 was theirs, 40-28, the deficit cut from 24 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 102-78 against them. Barnes's -25 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/05 @ LAL 116-118 — SAS notes
SAS lost 116-118. SAS shot 49% (36 of 74) to LAL's 45%, 13 of 33 from three. SAS turned it over 19 times to LAL's 12, and LAL turned those into 8 steals. Wembanyama led with 19 (5 of 14, 9 of 11 at the line); Castle added 16, Sochan 16. Q3 was theirs, 37-28, turning a 1-point deficit into a 8-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 90-79 against them. They led by as many as 12. Waters III's -9 in 14 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/07 vs HOU 121-110 — SAS notes
SAS won 121-110. SAS shot 46% (40 of 87) to HOU's 46%, 18 of 45 from three. Barnes led with 24 (8 of 11, 6 of 9 from three); Wembanyama added 22, Champagnie 22. The hinge was Q4, 35-28: a lead of 4 became 11. Castle was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
11/08 vs NOP 126-119 — SAS notes
SAS won 126-119. SAS shot 53% (48 of 90) to NOP's 48%, 14 of 40 from three. Fox led with 24 (9 of 14, 2 of 5 from three); Wembanyama added 18, Castle 16. The hinge was Q1, 28-22: from level to 6 ahead, and the lead reached 19. Vassell was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
11/10 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Giddey at 23 and Vučević at 17 a game. One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 19 and Castle at 19 a game. Without Harper (3 straight), Kornet (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: San Antonio wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Chicago at 40 percent from three to San Antonio's 34 and the defense, San Antonio allowing 116 a night to Chicago's 124. Call it San Antonio 119, Chicago 117, Chicago keeping it close.
11/12 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 21 and Castle at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Harper (4 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 113, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Richard at 16 and Moody at 15 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the glass, where San Antonio has been plus-1 a night and Golden State minus-3. Call it San Antonio 119, Golden State 112.
11/14 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 118, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 26 and Fox at 19 a game. Without Harper (5 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 116, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 28 free throws a game; Butler III at 19 and Moody at 14 a game. One day's rest.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the glass, where San Antonio has been plus-2 a night and Golden State minus-4. Call it San Antonio 119, Golden State 113.
11/16 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 27 and Fox at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Harper (6 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 131, shooting 43 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Sabonis at 21 and LaVine at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Cardwell (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the glass, where San Antonio has been plus-4 a night and Sacramento minus-9 and the defense, San Antonio allowing 116 a night to Sacramento's 131. Call it San Antonio 125, Sacramento 110, San Antonio by 15.
10/31 @ LAC 124-126 — NOP notes
NOP lost 124-126. NOP shot 48% (40 of 83) to LAC's 52%, 18 of 37 from three, and went to the line 29 times to LAC's 21 — 26 points from the stripe to their 19. Poole led with 30 (9 of 15, 7 of 13 from three); Williamson added 29, Murphy III 17. Q4 was theirs, 40-32, the deficit cut from 10 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 94-84 against them.
11/02 @ OKC 106-137 — NOP notes
NOP lost 106-137. NOP shot 44% (35 of 80) to OKC's 56%, 16 of 40 from three, and went to the line 32 times to OKC's 26 — 20 points from the stripe to their 23. NOP turned it over 16 times to OKC's 11, and OKC turned those into 12 steals. Williamson led with 20 (7 of 14, 6 of 12 at the line); Murphy III added 19, Fears 16. Q3 was theirs, 30-33, but the other 3 periods went 104-76 against them. Poole's -26 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/04 vs CHA 116-112 — NOP notes
NOP won 116-112. NOP shot 48% (43 of 90) to CHA's 48%, 17 of 38 from three, and got to the line 19 times to CHA's 28. NOP turned it over 12 times to CHA's 19. The glass went 39-49 against them. Murphy III led with 21 (7 of 16, 5 of 10 from three); Alvarado added 18, Bey 17. The hinge was Q4, 29-19: NOP came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 4. Alvarado was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
11/05 @ DAL 101-99 — NOP notes
NOP won 101-99. NOP shot 43% (39 of 91) to DAL's 42%, 10 of 31 from three. The glass went 56-44 for them. Bey led with 22 (9 of 14, 4 of 6 from three); Fears added 13, Alvarado 13. The hinge was Q1, 29-19: from level to 10 ahead. Alvarado was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
11/08 @ SAS 119-126 — NOP notes
NOP lost 119-126. NOP shot 48% (45 of 94) to SAS's 53%, 15 of 38 from three. Murphy III led with 41 (15 of 22, 5 of 11 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Fears added 18, Jones 15. Q3 was theirs, 27-26, the deficit cut from 8 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 100-92 against them. Hawkins's -22 in 18 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/10 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 107, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Booker at 29 and Allen at 16 a game. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 120, shooting 46 percent and 41 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murphy III at 22 and Poole at 17 a game. Without Williamson (3 straight), Poole (2 straight), McGowens (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 107 a night to New Orleans's 120. Call it Phoenix 120, New Orleans 110, Phoenix by 10.
11/12 vs POR — 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 108 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Murphy III at 23 and Fears at 15 a game. Without Williamson (4 straight), Poole (3 straight), Missi (4 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 120, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 28 free throws a game; Avdija at 28 and Sharpe at 22 a game. Without Henderson (10 straight), Love (3 straight), Thybulle (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Portland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 38 percent from three to Portland's 32 and the line, where Portland takes 28 free throws a game to New Orleans's 22. Call it Portland 118, New Orleans 115, New Orleans keeping it close.
11/14 vs LAL — 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 110 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Murphy III at 23 and Bey at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Williamson (5 straight), Poole (4 straight), Jordan (7 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Dončić at 28 and Hachimura at 17 a game. Without Vincent (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 26 free throws a game to New Orleans's 20. Call it the Lakers 116, New Orleans 114, New Orleans keeping it close.
11/16 vs GSW — 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 108 a night and allowing 118, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Murphy III at 26 and Bey at 17 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Williamson (6 straight), Poole (5 straight), McGowens (2 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 113, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Ste. Curry at 35 and Butler III at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Santos (2 straight), Spencer (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Golden State takes 27 free throws a game to New Orleans's 20 and the glass, where New Orleans has been minus-0 a night and Golden State minus-5. Call it Golden State 115, New Orleans 112, New Orleans keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SASCB C. Bryant
DF D. Fox
DV D. Vassell
HB H. Barnes
JC J. Champagnie
JS J. Sochan
KJ K. Johnson
LW L. Waters III
SC S. Castle
VW V. Wembanyama
NOPDQ D. Queen
HJ H. Jones
JA J. Alvarado
JF J. Fears
JH J. Hawkins
KL K. Looney
KM K. Matković
MP M. Peavy
SB S. Bey
TM T. Murphy III
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
Fox scores 24 points in season debut, Wembanyama has 18 points, 18 rebounds as Spurs top Pelicans
SAN ANTONIO -- — De’Aaron Fox scored 24 points in his season debut, Victor Wembanyama added 18 points and 18 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the New Orleans Pelicans 126-119 on Saturday night.
Stephon Castle added 14 points and 14 assists as San Antonio won its second straight after two straight losses following a franchise-best 5-0 start.
Trey Murphy III scored 41 points on 15-for-22 shooting for the Pelicans. Murphy was 5 for 11 on 3-pointers, including a high-arcing 31-footer at the close of the third quarter to stun the sellout crowd.
Fox and Wembanyama played together for just the sixth time since San Antonio acquired the speedy point guard from Sacramento on Feb. 5 as part of a three-team trade with Chicago.
Fox’s season ended March 12 when he opted to undergo season-ending surgery to repair a torn tendon in his left pinky finger. Fox then sustained a right hamstring injury during the offseason as he prepared for his first full season with the Spurs.
Jeremiah Fears had 18 points and Herb Jones added 15 for the short-handed Pelicans, who were without Zion Williamson (strained left hamstring), Jordan Poole (strained left quad) and Yves Missi (illness).
After missing his first two attempts, Fox drained a stepback 3-pointer for his bucket of the season 2:21 into the second quarter. The 24-footer was the start of a personal 13-point run over 2 1/2 minutes for Fox to break a 32-all tie. He was 5 for 5 over that span, including a pair of 3-pointers to bookend the run.
New Orleans held Dallas to 99 points in a two-point victory Wednesday, the first time in 14 games an opponent scored less than 100. There would be no repeat Saturday as eight Spurs scored in double figures.
San Antonio held New Orleans to an opponent season-low 22 points in the opening quarter and never trailed.