NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Victor Wembanyama scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half and had a crucial block on Herb Jones’ shot in the final seconds to lift the San Antonio Spurs to a 111-109 victory over the reeling New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.
Wembanyama and the Spurs overcame a 10-point halftime deficit in sending the short-handed Pelicans to their fourth consecutive home loss. The Spurs had lost seven straight in the series with New Orleans.
Trailing 107-106, the Pelicans had a chance to regain the lead, but Jones dribbled into the paint and his shot was swiped clean by Wembanyama with 10 second left.
CJ McCollum led New Orleans with 31 points, and Jonas Valanciunas had 26 points and seven assists. The Pelicans were without their two leading scorers. Zion Williamson (22.8) was sidelined with a bruised finger on his left shooting hand, an injury he suffered in a 117-108 loss to Orlando on Wednesday night, and Brandon Ingram (20.9) missed his eighth straight game because of a bone bruise on his left knee.
Devonte Graham’s 3-pointer at the close of the third quarter capped a 35-25 period for the Spurs that tied it at 86.
Graham led San Antonio with 20 points. Sandro Mamukelashvili, Julian Champagnieach Collins had 15 each, and Tre Jones and Malaki Branham had 14 apiece.
The Pelicans double-teamed Wembanyama from the outset, employing the 6-foot-7 Jones as the lead defender despite giving up 8 inches to the 7-3 San Antonio center.
Wembanyama missed all six shots from the field in the first half, and the Spurs shot just 44% from the field (19 of 43) to trail 61-51 at the break.
UP NEXT
Spurs: Host Philadelphia on Sunday night.
Pelicans: At Phoenix on Sunday.
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