The New Orleans Pelicans stormed back from a 17-point deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 114-96 on Sunday night.
Zion Williamson led the way with 22 points and nine rebounds as New Orleans (14-43) dominated the second half. The Pelicans outscored San Antonio 51-22 over the final 14 minutes, turning a once-lopsided game into a convincing victory.
Kelly Olynyk recorded his first double-double since joining New Orleans, finishing with 14 points and 15 rebounds. Rookies Yves Missi and Karlo Matkovic had career nights, combining for 25 points and 21 boards.
San Antonio (24-31) jumped out to an early advantage and built a 50-33 lead late in the second quarter. However, the Spurs struggled to maintain their momentum, shooting just 33% from the field and 29.4% from beyond the arc.
Julian Champagnie matched his career-high with six 3-pointers and tied Keldon Johnson for a team-high 18 points. De’Aaron Fox and Harrison Barnes added 13 points each but struggled from the floor, combining for 7-of-27 shooting.
The Pelicans took control in the fourth quarter with a 15-2 run that erased San Antonio’s lead. Williamson’s and-one layup over Johnson put New Orleans ahead for good at 88-79.
Jose Alvarado provided a spark off the bench with 12 points and eight assists, while Trey Murphy III contributed 15 points. The Pelicans also won the rebounding battle 69-46, with Missi and Olynyk leading the charge on the glass.
San Antonio played its third game without Victor Wembanyama, who is sidelined for the season with a blood clot in his shoulder. The team has gone 1-2 in his absence.
New Orleans has now won two of its last three games after snapping a 10-game losing streak before the All-Star break. The teams will meet again Tuesday in New Orleans.
