New Orleans plays San Antonio for conference showdown

Thu, Feb 1, 2024
NBA News (AP)

New Orleans Pelicans (27-21, seventh in the Western Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (10-38, 15th in the Western Conference)

San Antonio; Friday, 8 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs host Brandon Ingram and the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Spurs are 7-20 in Western Conference games. San Antonio has a 2-3 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

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The Pelicans are 6-6 against the rest of their division. New Orleans ranks seventh in the Western Conference allowing just 112.9 points while holding opponents to 46.3% shooting.

The Spurs are shooting 46.2% from the field this season, 0.1 percentage points lower than the 46.3% the Pelicans allow to opponents. The Pelicans average 12.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.6 fewer made shots on average than the 13.7 per game the Spurs give up.

The teams play for the third time this season. The Pelicans won the last matchup 146-110 on Dec. 17. CJ McCollum scored 29 points to help lead the Pelicans to the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Devin Vassell is averaging 18.4 points and 3.6 assists for the Spurs. Wembanyama is averaging 22.3 points over the last 10 games for San Antonio.

Ingram is averaging 21.5 points and 5.6 assists for the Pelicans. McCollum is averaging 2.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for New Orleans.

LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 3-7, averaging 112.5 points, 42.4 rebounds, 30.6 assists, 7.8 steals and 6.7 blocks per game while shooting 47.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.8 points per game.

Pelicans: 4-6, averaging 116.7 points, 44.5 rebounds, 26.5 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 48.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.2 points.

INJURIES: Spurs: Keldon Johnson: out (elbow), Zach Collins: out (ankle), Charles Bassey: out for season (knee).

Pelicans: Zion Williamson: out (foot), Herbert Jones: out (adductor).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.