Victor Wembanyama scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half and made a crucial block on Herb Jones’ shot in the final moments, helping the San Antonio Spurs secure a 111-109 victory over the struggling New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.
Wembanyama and the Spurs managed to overcome a 10-point halftime deficit to hand the short-handed Pelicans their fourth consecutive home loss. This win also ended the Spurs’ seven-game losing streak against New Orleans.
In addition to his scoring, Wembanyama also contributed 12 rebounds and nine assists. The Spurs recorded 34 assists in total, marking their 42nd game this season with at least 30 assists, a franchise record.
Wembanyama expressed satisfaction with his facilitating role, acknowledging the importance of making his teammates better. Coach Gregg Popovich praised the team’s resilience, noting their efforts to play hard throughout the entire game despite early challenges.
With the Pelicans trailing 107-106, they had an opportunity to take the lead, but Wembanyama’s timely block on Jones’ shot with 10 seconds left secured the victory for the Spurs. CJ McCollum led the Pelicans with 31 points, although he struggled with his shooting in the second half.
Jonas Valanciunas contributed 26 points and seven assists for New Orleans but faced foul trouble in the second half. The Pelicans were without their top scorers, Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, due to injuries.
Devonte Graham’s 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter helped the Spurs tie the game at 86. Graham led San Antonio with 20 points, while several other players contributed to the balanced scoring effort.
Despite facing a double-team defense, Wembanyama showcased his resilience by bouncing back from a slow start in the first half, scoring 15 points in the second half, including three 3-pointers.
