NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Brandon Ingram scored 32 points, and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the San Antonio Spurs 119-84 on Tuesday night.
Jonas Valanciunas had 19 points and 15 rebounds for the Pelicans, who led by as many as 36 points before closing out their second straight victory. Trey Murphy III scored 17, and CJ McCollum added 15 points.
Ingram scored 16 in the third quarter, when New Orleans widened a 25-point halftime lead to 31.
New Orleans entered the day a game behind Oklahoma City and Utah for the ninth and 10th spots in the Western Conference. The Jazz were idle Tuesday night, while the Thunder played the Clippers in Los Angeles.
Sandro Mamukelashvili scored 20 for the Spurs, who came in having won three of six but had previously slipped well out of realistic contention for a postseason berth.
Tre Jones and former Pelican Devonte’ Graham each scored 15 and Keita Bates-Diop added 12 points.
The Pelicans took their first double-digit lead late in the first quarter after Ingram and McCollum combined for 11 points during a 13-2 run that made it 27-16.
New Orleans opened the second quarter on a 10-2 run, highlighted by Murphy’s alley-oop dunk.
Murphy’s 3 gave New Orleans a 20-point lead late in the quarter and McCullum closed out the first half with a floater and a 3 to put the Pelicans up 64-39.
TIP-INS
Spurs: Rookie F Jeremy Sochan missed his second straight game since aggravating a sore right knee in the first quarter of last Friday’s game against Memphis. … Devin Vassell, who scored 29 points in a victory over Atlanta on Sunday, was scratched to rest his previously injured left knee. … Shot just 34.5% (30 of 87) overall, including 13 of 41 from 3-point range.
New Orleans: Josh Richardson, whom the Pelicans acquired in exchange for Graham in February, scored 10 points. … Swept the Spurs in a season series for the first time in team history. … Outrebounded San Antonio 59-46.
UP NEXT
Spurs: Visit Milwaukee on Wednesday night.
Pelicans: Host Charlotte on Thursday night.
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