The San Antonio Spurs finally snapped out of their recent slump, edging the New Orleans Pelicans 135–132 on Monday night (Dec. 8 U.S. time). After two full days of rest, the Spurs came in looking like a focused, energized group—exactly what you would expect from a team determined to get back on track against one of the league’s bottom-ranked squads.
For most of the first half, San Antonio looked unstoppable. Their offense flowed with ease, their ball movement carved up the Pelicans’ defense, and the gap quickly ballooned to 25 points. But as has often been the case this season, the Spurs’ dominance proved fragile.
Pelicans Storm Back Behind Zone Defense
New Orleans returned from halftime with renewed intensity and a tactical adjustment that changed everything. Interim head coach James Borrego—formerly a long-time Spurs assistant—switched into a disruptive zone defense that threw San Antonio completely out of rhythm.
The Spurs, suddenly stagnant, fell into one of their trademark third-quarter collapses. Their offense became predictable, their drives stalled, and the Pelicans punished every mistake with fast-break opportunities and relentless penetration inside. In a span of just seven minutes, a 25-point Spurs lead evaporated, and soon after, New Orleans briefly jumped ahead.
It was a stunning turnaround—one that threatened to undo all the early progress San Antonio had built.
Dylan Harper Steals the Spotlight
Thankfully for the Spurs, rookie sensation Dylan Harper delivered his best performance since joining the league. After a miserable 1-for-11 outing against Cleveland on Friday, Harper responded with the poise of a veteran.
Harper finished with 22 points (10-16 FG), 6 assists, and 3 rebounds in just 26 minutes. Not only was he the Spurs’ leading scorer, but he also became the team’s second-highest point producer of the night behind Derik Queen.
The rookie has now scored in double figures in five of his last six games and has tallied six or more assists in five of his first 13 NBA appearances—a strong indicator of just how comfortable he is becoming in the Spurs’ system.
Derik Queen Dominates With Triple-Double Show
While Harper provided the spark, Derik Queen was the anchor. The powerful big man delivered an exceptional 33-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double, overwhelming San Antonio’s interior defenders and controlling the paint on both ends.
Trey Murphy III was nearly as impressive, pouring in 32 points to keep New Orleans competitive until the final seconds.
San Antonio’s defensive struggles in the paint remain a glaring issue. This was the second straight game the Spurs allowed 80+ points in the paint, a concerning trend for head coach Gregg Popovich’s staff.
Stephon Castle Returns: First Time Sharing the Court With Fox and Harper
One major bright spot came with the return of rookie guard Stephon Castle, who was sidelined for nine games due to a hip injury. For the first time this season, Castle, De’Aaron Fox, and Harper were all available in the same game.
Castle’s debut was classic rookie chaos: high energy, flashes of brilliance, and a handful of mistakes. He recorded 6 points, 3 assists, and 3 turnovers, attacking aggressively early and trying to carve out opportunities for both himself and his teammates.
As the game progressed, Castle settled down and meshed comfortably with both Fox and Harper. While the trio didn’t all share the floor simultaneously for long stretches, two of the three were almost always on the court—and the chemistry already looks promising. Combined, they totaled 54 points and 18 assists.
Spurs Regain Control in the Fourth Quarter
Despite the massive meltdown, San Antonio eventually rediscovered its composure. In the fourth quarter, they tightened their defensive rotations, pushed the tempo, and executed with far greater discipline.
Dylan Harper delivered several key plays down the stretch—attacking the basket, orchestrating the offense, and showing a calmness rare for a rookie. His late-game shot-making was crucial in preventing New Orleans from completing the comeback.
Luke Kornet Struggles in His Return
Many Spurs fans hoped Luke Kornet’s return would help reinforce the interior after Cleveland dominated them inside. However, Kornet struggled in nearly every aspect of the game.
Offensively, he had difficulty finding a rhythm. Defensively, he was repeatedly overpowered by Derik Queen. His return did little to stop the Pelicans from scoring at will in the paint.
A Win—But With Warning Signs
While the victory was badly needed, the Spurs will not be satisfied with the manner in which they earned it. A 25-point lead turning into a near disaster highlights ongoing inconsistencies—particularly defensively and in maintaining focus.
Still, the emergence of Dylan Harper, the dominant performance from Derik Queen, and the return of Stephon Castle provide reasons for optimism.
If the Spurs can learn from the collapse and build on the fourth-quarter resilience, this game could mark a turning point in their season.
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