Wembanyama fouled out early in overtime but set the tone throughout, opening the extra period with a dunk and capping his night with a critical block on Trey Murphy’s floater. Devin Vassell added 23 points and hit a crucial three-pointer in OT, followed by another deep shot from Julian Champagnie that extended the lead to 116-110, putting the game out of reach for New Orleans.
The Pelicans, led by Zion Williamson‘s 27 points and 10 rebounds, forced overtime after Williamson tied the game at 107 with a free throw in the final seconds of regulation. However, he missed the potential game-winner from the line, and Wembanyama’s contested 15-foot fade at the buzzer fell short.
San Antonio’s rebounding proved decisive. Luke Kornet tallied 14 points and 12 boards, grabbing nine offensive rebounds as the Spurs dominated the glass with 20 offensive boards and 26 second-chance points. Stephon Castle contributed 16 points, including a clutch three-pointer with 19.8 seconds left in the fourth, while rookie Dylan Harper sparked a pivotal 14-0 run in the final period with seven of his 13 points.
The Pelicans kept pace thanks to Murphy’s 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Jordan Poole’s 21 points. Rookies Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears chipped in 15 and 13 points, respectively. Both Williamson and Wembanyama scored 12 points in the first half, with New Orleans holding a narrow 58-57 lead at the break. The game featured no double-digit leads, with momentum swinging on key defensive stops and timely shooting.
After an explosive opening from Williamson, who dunked over Wembanyama and drew a foul, the Spurs’ star quickly responded by blocking several of Williamson’s drives. Despite the Pelicans’ strong three-point shooting in the first half (7-16), San Antonio’s defense and rebounding advantage held up late.
The Spurs will return home to face Brooklyn on Sunday, while the Pelicans host Boston on Monday. For full stats, highlights, and player shot charts from this matchup, visit the official NBA box score and AP NBA coverage.