— In New Orleans, the San Antonio Spurs rallied in a frantic finish to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 135-132. Harrison Barnes led the Spurs with 24 points while rookie Dylan Harper finished with 22 and hit the go-ahead floater with 9 seconds left. Pelicans rookie Derik Queen erupted for 33 points — 29 in the second half — and recorded his first NBA triple-double (33 pts, 10 reb, 10 ast). De’Aaron Fox sealed the game at the free-throw line in the final second as the Pelicans fell for their seventh straight loss.
Key Takeaways
- Final score: San Antonio Spurs 135, New Orleans Pelicans 132; game played Dec. 8, 2025, in New Orleans.
- Harrison Barnes led the Spurs with 24 points; Dylan Harper added 22 and the go-ahead basket with 9 seconds remaining.
- Derik Queen posted a season-high 33 points and completed his first NBA triple-double (33-10-10), scoring 29 in the second half.
- Trey Murphy III scored 32 points and the Pelicans rallied with a 45-point third quarter to erase a 20-point halftime deficit.
- Team shooting: Spurs made 17 of 36 from three (47.2%) and attempted 99 field-goals; Spurs totaled 55 rebounds (13 offensive).
- Pelicans converted 51 of 88 field-goals (58.0%) but only hit 7 of 26 from three (26.9%); they committed 9 turnovers to the Spurs’ 13.
- Key absences: Victor Wembanyama (left calf) and Zion Williamson (right hip adductor) sat out and watched from the bench.
Background
The Spurs came into New Orleans without Victor Wembanyama (left calf), a recurring absence that has forced San Antonio to rely on depth and balanced scoring. San Antonio leaned on veterans such as Harrison Barnes and emerging role players like Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle to offset Wembanyama’s absence. The Pelicans likewise were missing their star Zion Williamson (right hip adductor) and had been sliding in the standings, carrying a multi-game losing streak into Monday’s matchup.
The matchup was shaped by contrasting team strengths: San Antonio’s perimeter shooting and offensive rebounding versus New Orleans’ ability to score inside and generate second-chance points. The Pelicans had turned to Derik Queen and Trey Murphy III as primary catalysts while coaches sought to stabilize a struggling roster amid injury interruptions. Both teams entered the game looking for steadier rotations as the NBA season progressed toward mid-December.
Main Event
San Antonio built a 20-point lead by halftime, sparked by a 42-point second quarter in which the Spurs knocked down 11 three-pointers in the first half and pushed the pace. Harrison Barnes and Dylan Harper provided much of the scoring punch early; Harper finished the first half among the Spurs’ secondary scorers while Barnes consistently attacked closeouts for high-percentage looks.
New Orleans opened the third quarter with fury, scoring 45 points in the period. The Pelicans ripped off an 11-0 run to start the half and Trey Murphy III and Derik Queen combined to erase the deficit, turning a 77-57 Spurs advantage into a 102-100 Pelicans lead by the end of the third. Queen scored 21 in that quarter alone, fueling the comeback with drives, midrange finishes and free throws.
The fourth quarter became a back-and-forth battle of momentum swings. San Antonio regained the lead through a mix of offensive rebounds and perimeter makes, while New Orleans countered with layups and secondary transition opportunities. With the game tied in the final minute, Dylan Harper drove and converted a floater with 9 seconds left to put the Spurs ahead 133-132.
After a Pelicans timeout, Derik Queen missed an attempt and was fouled on the rebound with 0.01 seconds showing; De’Aaron Fox made both free throws to push New Orleans into the lead — then, crucially, Fox’s later free throws with 0.01 (and subsequent late free throws with 0.01 and 0.00) gave the final margin. Saddiq Bey’s heaved 3 at the horn caromed off the rim, and San Antonio held on for the three-point victory.
Analysis & Implications
San Antonio’s victory underscores how deep shooting and offensive rebounding can compensate for the absence of a franchise big. The Spurs attempted nearly 100 field-goals and secured 13 offensive rebounds, generating extra possessions that proved decisive in a seven-point margin swing late in the game. Their 17 makes from behind the arc (47.2%) masked a relatively pedestrian overall field-goal percentage (49.5%).
For New Orleans, the third-quarter outburst exposed San Antonio’s defensive lapses for long stretches. The Pelicans shot efficiently inside (51 of 88 overall, 58.0% FG) and benefited from second-chance points, but their 7-for-26 three-point shooting and loss on the glass (41 total rebounds, 4 offensive) limited the comeback’s sustainability. Derik Queen’s 33-point triple-double points to a rising playmaker, but he needs more consistent perimeter support to lift New Orleans out of a losing skid.
In roster and season-context terms, the result leaves both teams with immediate questions. The Spurs collect a momentum win that may matter for short-term confidence and seeding in cup/regular-season windows; the Pelicans must address defensive rotation (especially late-game closeouts) and bench passing to avoid extending their losing streak. The health of Wembanyama and Williamson remains pivotal for each club’s ceiling.
Comparison & Data
| Stat | San Antonio Spurs | New Orleans Pelicans |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 135 | 132 |
| Field Goals | 49-99 (49.5%) | 51-88 (58.0%) |
| 3-Pointers | 17-36 (47.2%) | 7-26 (26.9%) |
| Free Throws | 20-25 (80.0%) | 23-26 (88.5%) |
| Total Rebounds | 55 | 41 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 13 | 4 |
| Assists | 29 | 35 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 9 |
The table highlights the contrast: San Antonio won the three-point battle (17 makes) and dominated the glass (+14 rebounds, including nine more offensive boards), while New Orleans was more efficient inside (58.0% FG) and recorded more assists. The Spurs’ extra possessions and long-range accuracy offset the Pelicans’ two-point efficiency.
Reactions & Quotes
Postgame comments and brief reports framed the game as a classic close finish with notable performances on both sides.
Derik Queen recorded his first NBA triple-double with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
Associated Press (game recap)
The AP noted Queen’s second-half surge — 29 of his 33 points — that almost singlehandedly erased a 20-point deficit. That sequence highlighted Queen’s ability to create and finish in traffic during the third quarter.
Dylan Harper delivered a go-ahead driving floater with 9 seconds left to give the Spurs the lead late.
CBS Sports (game tracker)
CBS Sports’ gametracker emphasized Harper’s late play after he scored 22 points overall, marking a key moment for a rookie stepping into a high-leverage situation.
Trey Murphy III finished with 32 points as New Orleans staged a furious third-quarter comeback but could not complete the rally.
CBS Sports / team box score
Team box-score summaries and beat writers focused on Murphy’s scoring outburst as the engine of the Pelicans’ comeback, particularly the third quarter when New Orleans erupted for 45 points.
Unconfirmed
- The precise timelines for Victor Wembanyama’s left-calf and Zion Williamson’s right hip-adductor recoveries were not provided by either team and remain unconfirmed.
- Any internal coaching plans or lineup changes in response to this game (beyond short-term rotations used tonight) have not been officially announced.
Bottom Line
San Antonio’s depth held up in a high-variance game: superior three-point shooting (17 makes) and a substantial advantage on the offensive glass delivered extra possessions that proved decisive. The Spurs found late answers from a rookie (Dylan Harper) and veterans (Harrison Barnes), which matters while Victor Wembanyama remains sidelined.
The Pelicans have clear positives — Derik Queen’s breakout triple-double and Trey Murphy’s 32-point outburst — but the club must shore up late-game defense and perimeter shooting if it hopes to stop the losing streak. With both teams managing injuries to cornerstone players, forthcoming health updates will strongly shape their short- and medium-term outlooks.