Resilience in the Paint: New Orleans Pelicans Survive Late Spurs Rally to Secure Road Win 104-95
In the modern NBA, no lead is safe. We say it so often that it has lost almost all meaning, becoming just another cliché broadcasters toss out when a team starts hitting back-to-back threes. But on a Sunday night in San Antonio, the New Orleans Pelicans lived that reality in the most visceral way possible, turning what should have been a gentle cruise to the finish line into a white-knuckle test of character.
For three quarters, the New Orleans Pelicans looked like a well-oiled machine, building a commanding 20-point advantage that silenced the Frost Bank Center. But comfort is the enemy of execution. When the Spurs came storming back with a 24-5 run to open the fourth quarter, taking the lead and threatening to steal the game, the narrative began to shift. It felt like the ground was crumbling beneath New Orleans’ feet. Yet, instead of folding, they dug their heels in. The Pelicans closed the game on a ferocious 17-3 run, showcasing the kind of grit that separates playoff hopefuls from contenders, ultimately escaping with a 104-95 victory.
A Tale of Two Forwards
The box score will tell you that Zion Williamson and Saddiq Bey had identical stat lines: 24 points and 10 rebounds each. But numbers on a page don’t capture the physicality required to produce them against a team anchored by Victor Wembanyama.
Williamson was his usual force of nature. When the offense stagnated during the Spurs’ furious comeback, it was Zion who demanded the ball, driving into the teeth of the defense and stabilizing the ship. He didn’t just score; he facilitated, dishing out four assists and keeping the defense collapsing on him to free up shooters.
Then there was Saddiq Bey. Often the unsung hero, Bey played with a relentless motor that seemed to wear down the Spurs’ frontcourt. His double-double wasn’t flashy, but it was essential. He was in the passing lanes, he was crashing the glass, and he was finishing through contact. When the New Orleans Pelicans needed a bucket to stop the bleeding in the fourth, Bey was often the one initiating the action or cleaning up a miss.
Yves Missi’s Impact
While the veterans steadied the boat, it was the raw energy of Yves Missi off the bench that provided the spark. The young center found himself matched up frequently against the alien-like wingspan of Wembanyama, a daunting task for a ten-year vet. Missi didn’t blink.
Finishing with 10 points and a massive 14 rebounds in 30 minutes, Missi was a menace on the offensive glass. He secured extra possessions when the New Orleans Pelicans needed them most, frustrating the Spurs’ attempts to close out defensive stops.
That praise isn’t hyperbole; it’s an acknowledgement of a skill set that wins ugly games. The New Orleans Pelicans tallied 26 second-chance points on the night, largely thanks to 19 offensive rebounds—a category where Missi led the charge.
Trey Murphy III and the Art of the All-Around Game
While the big men were warring in the paint, Trey Murphy III was quietly stitching the rest of the game together. Flirting with a triple-double, Murphy finished with 17 points, six rebounds, and a team-high nine assists.
His playmaking was a revelation. With the Spurs’ defense collapsing to stop Zion, Murphy made smart, crisp reads, finding cutters and open shooters. One of the night’s highlights came late in the game, a three-point stepback jump shot assisted by Bey that seemed to suck the air out of the building and signal that the New Orleans Pelicans had finally regained control.
Surviving the Fourth Quarter Collapse
It is impossible to ignore the scare. The Spurs, buoyed by the return of Devin Vassell (who scored 13 points in limited minutes), looked dead in the water before erupting for a 21-4 run bridging the third and fourth quarters. The Spurs’ lineup change injected pace and desperation into their game, and for a moment, the Pelicans looked shell-shocked.
However, the game turned on execution down the stretch. While the New Orleans Pelicans tightened up, San Antonio fell apart at the charity stripe, missing their final four free throws with the game still in the balance. The Pelicans capitalized on those errors ruthlessly.
This wasn’t just a win; it was a lesson in crisis management. By locking down defensively and closing on that decisive 17-3 run, the New Orleans Pelicans secured back-to-back wins and proved they can take a punch and stay standing. In a crowded Western Conference, that ability to weather the storm matters just as much as the talent on the roster.
