Victor Wembanyama, Spurs send Pels to 4th straight loss

Field Level Media|published: Fri 5th April, 22:36 2024

Apr 5, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas (17) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half at Smoothie King Center. credits: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Devonte' Graham scored 20 points, Victor Wembanyama finished one assist shy of a double-double and the visiting San Antonio Spurs defeated the fading New Orleans Pelicans 111-109 on Friday night.

Wembanyama finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Julian Champagnie and Zach Collins scored 15 each and Tre Jones and Malaki Barnham had 14 each for the Spurs (19-58), who defeated the Pelicans for the first time after three losses this season.

CJ McCollum scored 31 points, Jonas Valanciunas had 26, Trey Murphy III had 16 and Herbert Jones added 15 for New Orleans (45-32), which lost its fourth straight game and fifth in six games.

Murphy scored seven straight Pelicans points as they increased their 10-point halftime lead to 14 early in the third quarter. The Spurs used a 13-4 run to get within 78-75 before New Orleans rebuilt the lead to six points on two occasions.

Graham made consecutive 3-pointers to complete the third-quarter scoring and produce an 86-86 tie at the end of the period.

The score was tied three times before Branham's 3-pointer started a 7-0 run that gave San Antonio a 102-97 lead with five minutes left in the game.

The Pelicans got within one with 42 seconds left. After a Graham miss, Jones drove to the basket looking for a go-ahead score, but Wembanyama blocked his floater.

After Graham made two free throws with 10 seconds left, Jones turned the ball over and Wembanyama made two free throws.

McCollum scored six of his nine first-quarter points during the final four minutes and New Orleans took a 27-18 lead at the end of the period.

The Pelicans scored the first four points of the second quarter before Graham scored five points during a 12-2 run that pulled San Antonio within 33-30. The Pelicans increased the lead to 53-38 on a basket by Valanciunas before the Spurs crept within seven points.

McCollum made a free throw and added a jumper to complete the second-quarter scoring and give New Orleans a 61-51 halftime lead.

—Field Level Media

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