San Antonio Spurs (29-29, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (26-33, 11th in the Western Conference)
New Orleans; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Zion Williamson leads New Orleans into a matchup with San Antonio. He’s eighth in the league averaging 26.9 points per game.
The Pelicans are 14-17 in conference play. New Orleans is fifth in the Western Conference with 26.2 assists per game led by Lonzo Ball averaging 5.7.
The Spurs are 15-20 in Western Conference play. San Antonio ranks eighth in the Western Conference scoring 47 points per game in the paint led by DeMar DeRozan averaging 9.2.
The two teams square off for the third time this season. The Spurs defeated the Pelicans 117-114 in their last meeting on Feb. 27. DeRozan led San Antonio with 32 points, and Brandon Ingram paced New Orleans scoring 29 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Williamson is averaging 26.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists for the Pelicans. Ingram is averaging 21.5 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 37.1% over the last 10 games for New Orleans.
Derrick White is second on the Spurs averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers while scoring 15.4 points per game and shooting 34.6% from beyond the arc. Rudy Gay is averaging 1.1 made 3-pointers and scoring 9.9 points over the last 10 games for San Antonio.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pelicans: 4-6, averaging 114.9 points, 49.8 rebounds, 26.1 assists, 7.1 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.4 points on 47.0% shooting.
Spurs: 5-5, averaging 108.5 points, 44.2 rebounds, 26.1 assists, 7.7 steals and 6.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 104.2 points on 44.9% shooting.
INJURIES: Pelicans: James Johnson: out (adductor), Nickeil Alexander-Walker: out (ankle), Steven Adams: day to day (ankle), Josh Hart: out (thumb).
Spurs: DeMar DeRozan: out (quad), Trey Lyles: out (ankle), Patty Mills: out (rest), Dejounte Murray: out (rest).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by
Western Conference
Western Conference, Southwest Division
