Breaking News: A STAR Is Looking For The Perfect Road Trip For A Sunday Matinee Against The Spurs
The New Orleans Pelicans (15-11) conclude their three-game road trip Sunday afternoon at the Frost Bank Center against the San Antonio Spurs (4-20). San Antonio just ended a franchise-record 18-game losing streak against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday. Meanwhile, the Pelicans have won three straight games and are four games above.500, their best mark of the season.
New Orleans faces rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama for the first time this season. Wemby missed the first matchup between these teams on Dec.1 to rest a hip injury. The No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft leads the Spurs in points (19.0), rebounds (10.9), steals (1.3), and blocks (2.9). Wembanyama is getting the full NBA gauntlet early in his rookie season. After tangling with LeBron James on Friday night, the French rookie battles Zion Williamson on Sunday.
comes into the matchup playing well after acquiring a couple of season-highs. Zion gained national criticism for his performance during the semifinals of the NBA In-Season Tournament. Since the loss in Vegas, Williamson scored a season-high 36 points against the top defense in the NBA. He followed that up with a season-high 11 rebounds in Friday’s win versus the Hornets. On the season, Zion averages 22.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
Williamson, as well as Jonas Valanciunas, should have success against a Spurs team with a porous defense. Valanciunas is coming off his best game of the season Friday night in Charlotte. Jonas scored 29 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. San Antonio ranks near the bottom of the league in numerous defensive categories, including opponent points in the paint scoring.
The Pels would also like to get Brandon Ingram back on track. He’s coming off his worst performance of the season versus the Hornets. Ingram scored just eight points but committed nine turnovers in the game. B.I. struggled in the first matchup with the Spurs, shooting 3/14 with 14 points in the Pelicans victory. San Antonio comes into the game ranked No. 25 in opponent field goal percentage, so there will be an opportunity for Ingram to get scoring chances.
San Antonio doesn’t do a great job of creating turnovers from their opponent, so the Pelicans can’t fall prey to careless turnovers that allow the Spurs to remain in a close game. The Pelicans’ 16 turnovers on Friday allowed the short-handed Hornets to remain in a close game with New Orleans. The Spurs have the second-worst point differential in the league (-10.5), so allowing easy baskets off turnovers keeps them in a closer game than necessary.
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