Pelicans rally to rout Spurs

Field Level Media|published: Sun 23rd February, 21:52 2025

Feb 23, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) blocks the shot San Antonio Spurs center Bismack Biyombo (18) during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Zion Williamson scored 22 points, Kelly Olynyk had a double-double and the host New Orleans Pelicans defeated the San Antonio Spurs 114-96 on Sunday night.

Olynyk, playing just his second game with the Pelicans since being acquired in a trade with Toronto, finished with 14 points and a season-high 15 rebounds. Karlo Matkovic scored a season-high 19 points, Trey Murphy III had 15, CJ McCollum and Jose Alvarado added 12 each and Jordan Hawkins scored 10 for the Pelicans.

Keldon Johnson and Julian Champagnie scored 18 each for the Spurs. De'Aaron Fox and Harrison Barnes had 13 each and Bismack Biyombo added 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs, who were outscored 74-43 in the second half.

Barnes made two 3-pointers, Chris Paul made one and the Spurs extended their lead to 64-47 early in the third quarter.

Then Murphy made a 3-pointer and Olynyk added four free throws during a 13-0 run that pulled the Pelicans within four points.

San Antonio scored the next six points and led by as many as 11 before New Orleans made another push. Matkovic and Murphy had two field goals each and the Pelicans got within 79-75 at the end of the third quarter.

Williamson scored six points and Alvarado had four during New Orleans' 13-0 run to start the fourth quarter, which produced an 88-79 lead. Barnes made a layup for the Spurs' first points nearly five minutes into the period, but the Pelicans scored the next four points for a 92-81 lead and cruised the rest of the way.

Champagnie made three 3-pointers, the least of which beat the quarter buzzer, and San Antonio held a 30-26 lead at the end of the first period. Champagnie made another 3-pointer to start the second-quarter scoring and the Spurs scored the first eight points of the period.

Alvarado made a 3-pointer for the Pelicans' first points before Champagnie made a 3-pointer, Biyombo converted a three-point play and Barnes added a 3-pointer as San Antonio expanded the lead to 17 points.

McCollum scored New Orleans' last five points as it trimmed the lead to 53-40 at halftime.

--Field Level Media

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