SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs snatched a thrilling 119-115 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on March 15, 2025, on the strength of standout performances, particularly from Devin Vassell, who scored 22 points.
The game, held at Frost Bank Center, drew an attendance of 18,549, setting the stage for a compelling contest. The Spurs showcased impressive teamwork, with Keldon Johnson and Harrison Barnes each contributing 19 points, and Stephon Castle adding 17 points. Their combined efforts helped keep the Spurs competitive in the tightly contested match.
On the opposite end, C.J. McCollum shone for the Pelicans, netting 26 points along with nine assists and seven rebounds. Notably, McCollum made history by moving to 20th place on the all-time three-point list, achieving this milestone by surpassing Joe Johnson during the game.
"CJ McCollum's three-point shot moved him to 20th on the all-time three-point list," reported the Associated Press, highlighting McCollum's significant career achievement amid his team's struggles due to injuries.
Unfortunately for the Pelicans, star power forward Zion Williamson was absent due to personal reasons, leaving the team bolstered by backups. The absence of Williamson proved to be felt as youngster Trey Murphy III delivered 20 points but couldn't bridge the gap created by his team's missing star.
The game was rollercoaster-like from the start. New Orleans opened the second half with gusto, launching on a 15-7 run to take their largest lead at 73-65. The Spurs responded with resilience, closing the third quarter with a staggering 25-8 run, highlighted by Jeremy Sochan banking in a halfcourt three-pointer, pushing San Antonio to a 92-83 lead going to the final quarter.
With the score tied at 115 with just under two minutes remaining, Johnson captured an important rebound from Castle's missed three-point attempt. He quickly passed it to Vassell, who bathed the home crowd with excitement as he drained another long-range shot, extending San Antonio's lead to 116-111 with only 1:03 on the clock. "With 1:30 remaining, Johnson won the battle for the rebound of Castle's missed shot and passed it to Vassell, who drained the 3 from 26 feet to extend the lead," the AP reported, capturing the game's intense moments.
The Spurs were also managing their own injury issues, missing Victor Wembanyama due to a blood clot in his right shoulder, and De'Aaron Fox who suffered from left pinkie tendon damage. Without these key players, veteran center Bismack Biyombo grabbed only two points and two rebounds, struggling to fill the void left by the star rookie Wembanyama.
Statistically, the Spurs outperformed the Pelicans, shooting 50.0% (46-92) from the field, with 34.3% from the three-point line (12-35). Conversely, New Orleans shot at 46.4% (39-84) from the floor and managed to connect on 41.0% of their three-point attempts (16-39). The teams also differed significantly on free throws, with the Spurs hitting all of their attempts at 100% (11-11), compared to the Pelicans’ 75.8% (25-33).
From the game statistics, the Spurs excelled on the boards, tallying 52 total rebounds, including 12 offensive rebounds. New Orleans could only muster 37 rebounds overall. On turnovers, the Spurs had 18, generating 24 points off turnovers, whereas the Pelicans managed 10 turnovers, leading to just 10 points off their mistakes.
Following this exciting matchup, New Orleans prepares to host the Detroit Pistons on March 17, 2025, as they look to leverage their remaining season and their star McCollum’s burgeoning successes. Meanwhile, the Spurs will travel to face the Los Angeles Lakers the same night. Both teams find themselves facing uncertainty but have hope grounded on the performances exhibited over the course of the game.
San Antonio now boasts 142 three-pointers made throughout March, the highest of any team as the month nears its end, contrasted with the Boston Celtics who follow closely at 139. The Celtics are currently 7-1 this month, whereas the Spurs have settled at 4-5.
This game not only showcased notable player performances but also raised questions about both franchises as they edge closer to the playoffs amid variable conditions. C.J. McCollum's evolution as a veteran scratch and the Spurs handling their own roster limitations will surely develop as each continues to hone their identity within the NBA this season.