On December 2, Beijing time, the NBA regular season was played again, and the New Orleans Pelicans hosted the San Anthony Spurs. The first half was a close affair, with the Pelicans leading by one point at 54-53 heading into halftime. In the third quarter, the Pelicans went on a 13-2 run to stretch the score to 67-55 and take a double-digit lead. Although the Spurs did not give up, the Pelicans had more firepower, and finally beat the Spurs 121-106, giving the opponent a fourteenth straight defeat.
The Pelicans' third-quarter offense was largely due to the play of Varland and Murphy. Varland scored 10 points in the third quarter, including two dunks, to show off his interior dominance. Murphy hit three three-pointers in the third quarter to provide the Pelicans with outside firepower. The two worked together to create a 10-0 mini-climax, leaving the Spurs powerless.
The Pelicans' victory would not have been possible without the contributions of Wallan and Murphy. Varan had 24 points and 12 rebounds, nine of which were offensive rebounds, and he had a lot of second chances under the basket. Varan also had three blocks, one of which came in a crucial moment in the fourth quarter, when he flew to block the Spurs' Sochan and steady the Pelicans' defense. Wallan's performance is reminiscent of his time with the Grizzlies, who were the Pelicans' interior pillar.
Murphy was the surprise for the Pelicans. He missed the first few games of the season due to injury, and this game was his season debut. He played 25 minutes off the bench and scored 18 points, six of which were three-pointers, and he shot a whopping 66 from three-point range7%。Murphy's outside shooting has been a big help to the Pelicans, who are the X-factor.
Although Spurs lost the game, their performance was not without bright spots. Seven of them scored in double figures, including Sochan and Osman, who came off the bench, scoring 13 and 11 points, respectively, to add energy to the Spurs. The Spurs' offense is still relatively fluid, and their number of assists has reached 26, four more than the Pelicans.
However, the Spurs' defense is their weakness. They allowed the Pelicans to score 121 points, 54 of which came from under the basket, and the Spurs' interior defense looked weak. Spurs' main center Wemban is out due to injury, which is a big blow to Spurs' defense. Wemban is the heart of the Spurs' defense, and his blocks and rebounds are the team's No. 1. Without Wemban, the Spurs' interior line is unprotected, leaving the Pelicans' Wallan and Zion unscrupulous.
The result of this game is a stark contrast to the situation of the Pelicans and Spurs. The Pelicans have won two straight games and improved their record to 8-13 and sit in 11th place in the West. The Pelicans' form has picked up significantly, their offense and defense have improved, their roster has tended to be complete, and they are expected to continue to catch up with the top 10 in the West.
The Spurs, on the other hand, suffered a fourteen-game losing streak and dropped to 4-18 and finished last in the West. Spurs' form has been sluggish, their defense is among the worst in the league, their offense is inconsistent, and their squad has been plagued by injuries, and their prospects are bleak.
This game was also the second meeting of the season between the Pelicans and the Spurs, with their first meeting coming on Nov. 29, when the Pelicans defeated the Spurs 114-108 on the road. In doing so, the Pelicans have won both meetings this season against the Spurs, and they have the upper hand in the meetings between the two teams.