Trey Murphy III scored 24 points, and the New Orleans Pelicans erased a 19-point deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 109-103 on Tuesday night. Zion Williamson added 18 points as New Orleans (15-43) secured its second straight win over San Antonio (24-32) at home.
The Pelicans struggled from beyond the arc, making just 7 of 31 three-pointers, but they dominated inside with a 66-44 advantage in points in the paint. Murphy, who went 3 of 10 from deep, remained in the game despite twisting his ankle late in the fourth quarter.
San Antonio controlled the first half, jumping out to a 35-16 lead early in the second quarter. New Orleans responded with a 33-16 surge, cutting the deficit to 51-49 by halftime.
Devin Vassell led the Spurs with 20 points, while De’Aaron Fox finished with 15 points and nine assists. Fox struggled from the field, shooting 6 of 21, and committed six turnovers, including a costly up-and-down violation in the final seconds.
The Pelicans trailed until Jordan Hawkins’ layup with 10:19 left in the game put them ahead 91-87. That shot capped a 12-4 run that shifted momentum in New Orleans’ favor.
Yves Missi contributed 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Kelly Olynyk grabbed 12 boards after pulling down 15 in Sunday’s matchup. CJ McCollum chipped in 13 points and five assists for New Orleans.
Chris Paul made history despite the loss, becoming the first player in NBA history to record at least 500 points and 400 assists in 19 seasons. The veteran guard finished with 12 points and 10 assists.
San Antonio has yet to host a true home game since acquiring Fox on February 3. Their two home contests were played in Austin, and their next two matchups against Houston and Memphis will also be on the road.
New Orleans improved its interior play in the second half, securing the win despite missing 18 of its first 22 three-point attempts. The Pelicans’ rebounding edge (54-45) and ability to convert inside opportunities proved crucial.
Fox’s shooting woes hurt San Antonio, especially in the fourth quarter. The Spurs, who shot 40.9% as a team, couldn’t find an answer in crunch time.
