De’Aaron Fox poured in 24 points in his first game action since March to lead eight San Antonio players in double-figure scoring as the Spurs held off the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans 126-119 on Saturday.
It was the second game of a home back-to-back for the Spurs, who beat the Houston Rockets 121-110 on Friday.
The Spurs led by seven points after three quarters before creating some separation with a 9-2 run to open the final period. But New Orleans would not go down without a fight, closing to 115-112 on Herbert Jones’ 3-pointer with 3:55 to play. Fox canned a runner in the lane and Julian Champagnie hit a 3-pointer from the corner, the latter with 2:29 left, to build the Spurs’ lead back to eight points.
The Pelicans again pulled to within three before Fox hit a floater with 29 seconds remaining then a pair of free throws with 19 seconds left to secure the win.
Victor Wembanyama added 18 points and grabbed 18 rebounds for the Spurs, with Devin Vassell scoring 16 points, Harrison Barnes 15, Stephon Castle 14 with 14 assists and Champagnie also contributing 14 points. Keldon Johnson and Jeremy Sochan added 12 and 10 points, respectively, for San Antonio.
Trey Murphy III tied his career high with 41 points for New Orleans while Jeremiah Fears scored 18, Jones hit for 15 and Derik Queen tallied 13 points. The Pelicans played without Zion Williamson (hamstring), Yves Missi (illness) and Jordan Poole (quad strain).
Fox shook off the rust from missing the Spurs’ first eight games and took charge in the second quarter, pouring in 13 consecutive points for San Antonio as it built its advantage to 45-34 with 7:12 to play in the half. The Spurs would eventually push the margin to 19 points after a Lindy Waters III 3-pointer two minutes later, but New Orleans found its stride over the final five minutes, scoring 22 of the half’s final 33 points to draw to within 66-58 at the break.
Fox had 15 points (all in the second quarter) before halftime to lead the Spurs while Barnes added 11 and Wembanyama grabbed nine rebounds. Murphy paced the Pelicans with 16 points in the half and Fears hit for 11.
Murphy’s 45-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer brought the Pelicans to within 92-85 heading to the fourth.
