Spurs survive in New Orleans with a road win against the Pelicans.
SAN ANTONIO — Without Victor Wembanyama due to injury, the San Antonio Spurs beat the New Orleans Pelicans 135-132 on the road. Harrison Barnes led the team with 24 points. The Spurs saw their 25-point lead evaporate in the second half.
De’Aaron Fox had 14 points and seven assists, and Dylan Harper finished with 22 points, a new career high. Keldon Johnson scored 12, and Julian Champagnie had 17 and six rebounds. In his return to action, Stephon Castle added 18 points and five rebounds.
The Spurs are 16-7 and will next visit the Lakers on Wednesday night for the NBA Cup knockout quarterfinal game.
Here’s a sample of what the Spurs and Cavs said after the game.
Mitch Johnson:
“They were on track for 84 points, and they finished 42 points in the paint, I believe, in the first half. So there were a lot of smoke signals that were warning us that the scoreboard wasn’t as real, that it said it was. And very disappointed in the way that we came out of the half.”
“Just the lack of focus, lack of concentration when things are starting to slide away from us individually, collectively tightening all the way up to make sure, okay, this possession, that’s not going to happen.”
“Just having that type of mindset. I think at the beginning of the year, I would go iffy, hesitant, trying to figure it out, but as the season got going, my teammates and coaches encouraged me just to be me. So I think players like that to show that I’m going to attack no matter what. If I’m going to get to the line, if I get there, they found me. Just have that mindset.”
“We found a rhythm early, then let them come back in the third, but I was happy we at least finished it.”
“It (Spurs’ three-guard lineup) shouldn’t be too hard. We have great IQ just out of us three, so just being able to find space on the floor where we can all operate should be pretty simple.”
Head Coach James Borrego: