NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — The San Antonio Spurs held off a furious second-half rally by the New Orleans Pelicans to secure a 135-132 road victory Monday night at Smoothie King Center. San Antonio built a 20-point halftime lead behind explosive first-half shooting but nearly surrendered it as New Orleans erupted for 45 points in the third quarter. Trey Murphy led all scorers with 32 points for the Pelicans. Stephon Castle paced the Spurs with 18 points and five assists. The Spurs, who improved to 16-7, swept the three-game season series from the Pelicans. New Orleans fell to 3-22 despite the comeback attempt before an announced crowd of 15,783.

NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — In a game that encapsulated the starkly divergent trajectories of two franchises, the San Antonio Spurs survived a monumental collapse and a historic individual performance to edge the reeling New Orleans Pelicans 135-132 on Monday night at Smoothie King Center. A crowd of 15,783 saw the Spurs, now 16-7, build a 20-point halftime lead only to watch it evaporate completely in the face of a breathtaking second-half onslaught from Pelicans rookie center Derik Queen. The Spurs ultimately needed a clutch driving floater from their own rookie, Dylan Harper, with 9 seconds remaining to secure the victory after Queen had almost single-handedly brought New Orleans back. The game’s defining sequence, and its most important part, unfolded in the frantic final minute. With the score tied at 130, Harper, who finished with 22 points and six assists, drove into the lane and lofted a high-arcing shot over Queen’s outstretched arm, giving San Antonio a 132-130 lead with only 9.1 seconds on the clock. New Orleans called timeout to set up a final play, which resulted in Queen missing a 22-foot jumper. San Antonio’s De’Aaron Fox secured the defensive rebound, was fouled, and made two free throws with 1.1 seconds left for the final margin. Saddiq Bey’s rushed 3-point attempt at the buzzer bounced off the front rim, allowing the Spurs to escape. The victory was anything but straightforward. San Antonio dominated the first half, shooting a blistering 60 percent from the field in the first quarter to take a 35-25 lead. They expanded it in the second, with Julian Champagnie hitting three of his five 3-pointers in the period, to carry a 77-57 advantage into the break. The third quarter belonged entirely to Queen and the Pelicans, now 3-22. The rookie from Maryland erupted, scoring 19 points in the period as New Orleans outscored San Antonio 45-23. Queen’s dominance in the paint and from the free-throw line fueled a 32-9 run that gave the Pelicans their first lead since the opening minutes. By the time the quarter ended, the Spurs’ once-imposing lead had transformed into a 102-100 deficit. Queen finished with a season-high 33 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and four blocks, recording his first NBA triple-double. Twenty-nine of his points came after halftime. Trey Murphy supported him with 32 points, while Herb Jones added 17 points, six rebounds and four assists. For San Antonio, balance and veteran poise prevailed. Harrison Barnes led the Spurs with 24 points. Champagnie, named the team’s top star, contributed 17 points, six rebounds and three assists, providing critical outside shooting throughout. Fox had 14 points and seven assists, including the game-sealing free throws, while Stephon Castle added 18 points and five assists. The game’s statistical oddity was the point total, which soared to 267, significantly surpassing the pregame over/under line of 237.5. Despite the loss, the Pelicans covered the 9-point spread. The Spurs, who were projected with an 83.4 percent probability to win by National Statistical’s ELO system, have now won two straight and continue a road trip Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Pelicans, mired in a deep slump, host the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, searching for a way to translate individual brilliance into a much-needed victory.

NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — A surging San Antonio Spurs squad, led by the dynamic play of De’Aaron Fox, visits the struggling New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night at the Smoothie King Center in a Western Conference matchup defined by starkly contrasting trajectories. The Spurs (15-7) arrive with one of the league’s best records, having won eight of their last 11 games. Their offense has been a powerhouse, averaging 122.3 points over that stretch. The catalyst is Fox, who is averaging 25.3 points and 6.7 assists this season. Over his last 10 games, the guard has been exceptional, posting lines like 37 points and eight assists against Portland and 31 points in a narrow win over Orlando. He is coming off a 25-point, nine-assist performance in a road loss to Cleveland on Friday. Conversely, the Pelicans (3-21) own the NBA’s worst record and are mired in a five-game losing streak. Their defense has been a persistent issue, allowing a league-worst 124.8 points per game. In their most recent outing, a 119-101 loss at Brooklyn on Saturday, they conceded 70 first-half points. Forward Trey Murphy has been a bright spot, averaging 21.4 points and 6.6 rebounds over his last 10 contests, including a 33-point, 15-rebound effort in a high-scoring loss to Minnesota. Recent history favors the visitors. The teams have met twice this season, with San Antonio winning both. The Spurs took a 120-116 overtime decision in New Orleans on Oct. 24, followed by a 126-119 victory at home on Nov. 8. For San Antonio, maintaining its high-octane offense against a porous Pelicans defense will be the primary objective. For New Orleans, stopping its skid will require a dramatic defensive improvement and another standout performance from Murphy to counter Fox’s brilliance. The Spurs continue a three-game road trip before hosting the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. The Pelicans open a brief two-game homestand before hosting Portland on Thursday.