New Orleans Pelicans interim head coach James Borrego highlighted Derik Queen’s performance after Monday’s 135-132 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. “Special night for him… second half really impressive and heck of an effort on his part,” Borrego said of Queen, who finished with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists for his first NBA triple-double.
Borrego praised the team’s resilience after trailing by 20 points at halftime. “This is a resilient group. We could have given in, and this group just chooses not to drop the sword,” he said, noting New Orleans tied the game early in the fourth before ultimately falling short.
The coach explained the defensive adjustments made in the second half, including zone coverage and intentional rebounding. “It kept Queen at the rim allowing him to rebound. The guards were great… more intentional there in the second half with our defense and rebounding,” Borrego said.
Herb Jones’ return from an eight-game absence also drew praise. “He had us all energized and focused… he means so much to our team, especially on the defensive end,” Borrego said, emphasizing the impact of Jones’ presence on both ends of the floor.
Borrego discussed the synergy between Queen and Trey Murphy, who scored 32 points. “Murph’s finding ways to play off ball now with Queen… they have a great synergy going,” Borrego explained, highlighting the unpredictable offensive spacing that challenged the Spurs’ defense.
Queen’s ability to draw fouls was another key factor in the comeback attempt. “Got 13 trips to the line tonight… to get to the line for Queen second half was really impressive for a young guy,” Borrego said, emphasizing how free-throw opportunities helped mitigate the team’s struggles from deep.
Despite the loss, Borrego remained focused on the team’s growth. “You got us there, you’re going to be in that position again. Trust it. We believe in you,” he said, offering encouragement to Queen after a missed late shot.
San Antonio relied on Harrison Barnes’ 24 points and Dylan Harper’s go-ahead floater with nine seconds remaining to secure the win. New Orleans fell to 3-22, while the Spurs improved to 16-7. The Pelicans return home to face Portland on Thursday, aiming to halt a seven-game slide, and San Antonio heads to Los Angeles for an NBA Cup quarterfinal against the Lakers.
