02/25/25 Spurs vs Pelicans Preview: NBA Southwest Showdown at Smoothie King Center

SipaUsa / Icon Sport

 

Spurs vs Pelicans Preview: NBA Southwest Showdown at Smoothie King Center

 

The San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Pelicans are set to face off in a compelling Southwest Division matchup at the Smoothie King Center on Tuesday. This contest features two teams heading in different directions, with both squads dealing with significant injury challenges. Our comprehensive analysis breaks down everything you need to know before this pivotal NBA clash.

 

Current Form Analysis: Teams Heading in Different Directions

 

The San Antonio Spurs enter this contest in the midst of a concerning slump, having dropped 12 of their previous 17 games. Their recent form is particularly troubling, with consecutive losses to the Detroit Pistons and these same New Orleans Pelicans just days ago. The absence of phenom Victor Wembanyama for the remainder of the season has clearly impacted the team’s performance trajectory.

 

Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans present an interesting case study in home-court advantage. Despite holding just a 24.6% overall winning percentage this season—placing them near the bottom of the Western Conference—the Pelicans have secured 10 of their 14 victories on their home court. Their recent performance includes a loss to the Dallas Mavericks followed by a convincing 114-96 victory over these same Spurs on Sunday.

 

Statistical Breakdown: Offensive and Defensive Metrics

 

The Spurs’ offensive production has remained relatively consistent despite their struggles, averaging 112.7 points per game on 46% shooting from the field. Defensively, they’re allowing 114.5 points on 46.5% opponent shooting. One bright spot has been their perimeter defense, holding opponents to 35.8% from beyond the arc.

 

The Pelicans have struggled to find consistent offensive rhythm, posting 110.1 points per game on 44.7% shooting. Their defensive vulnerabilities are more pronounced, surrendering 119.2 points per contest on 48.5% shooting. New Orleans has particularly struggled with perimeter defense, allowing opponents to connect on 36.7% of three-point attempts.

 

What stands out from a statistical perspective is the Pelicans’ ranking near the bottom of the league (29th) in both opponent three-point field goal attempts (39.8) and opponent field goals made per game (43.8). Conversely, the Spurs have excelled at limiting free throw opportunities, ranking 2nd league-wide by allowing just 18.2 opponent free throw attempts per game.

 

Key Personnel: Impact Players and Injury Concerns

 

For San Antonio, De’Aaron Fox has stepped up as the primary offensive catalyst, averaging 21.8 points and 4.8 rebounds. Devin Vassell has provided secondary scoring with 15.3 points while adding 2.8 assists per game. Rookie Stephon Castle has shown flashes of potential as the team’s third double-digit scorer, while Keldon Johnson contributes playmaking with 1.5 assists per contest.

 

New Orleans continues to be powered by Zion Williamson‘s dynamic presence, as the former #1 overall pick averages 24.5 points and 7.5 rebounds. Veteran CJ McCollum provides essential perimeter scoring with 22.1 points and 3.8 rebounds. Trey Murphy III has emerged as a reliable third scoring option, while Brandon Boston contributes on the glass with 3.2 rebounds per game.

 

Both teams are navigating significant injury challenges. The Pelicans will be without the services of Dejounte Murray, Herbert Jones, and Brandon Boston. Meanwhile, the Spurs’ injury report includes Riley Minix, Victor Wembanyama, and Charles Bassey—with Wembanyama’s season-ending absence representing the most impactful loss.

 

Historical Trends and Betting Patterns

 

Several interesting trends emerge when examining the historical matchups between these Southwest Division rivals:

 

Favoring New Orleans:

 

  • The Spurs have struggled in night games against Southwest Division opponents, losing seven of their last eight such contests.

 

  • The Pelicans have dominated recent head-to-head matchups, winning their last six games against the Spurs following a victory.

 

  • Betting trends support New Orleans as well, with the Spurs failing to cover the spread in eight consecutive night games against Southwest Division opponents.

 

  • Favorites have covered the spread in five of the last six Spurs games at Smoothie King Center.

 

Supporting San Antonio:

 

  • The Pelicans have struggled significantly against teams on the first leg of a back-to-back, losing 12 of their last 13 such matchups.

 

  • The Spurs have historically performed well at Smoothie King Center following road losses, winning five of their last six in this scenario.

 

  • Against the spread, the Spurs have covered in each of their last three games as underdogs on the first leg of a back-to-back.

 

  • The Pelicans have failed to cover in five of their last six games against opponents playing the front end of back-to-back games.

 

Expert Prediction: Breaking Down the Southwest Division Clash

 

While conventional wisdom might suggest the Spurs have enough talent with Fox leading the charge to remain competitive, their recent trajectory tells a different story. Having lost seven of their last ten games, San Antonio appears to be in free-fall mode in the Western Conference standings.

 

The Pelicans’ convincing 114-96 victory over the Spurs just days ago provides a recent performance benchmark. While conventional wisdom acknowledges the difficulty of defeating the same opponent twice in rapid succession, the Spurs’ current form doesn’t inspire confidence in a dramatic turnaround.

 

Despite New Orleans having their own challenges this season, their significant home-court advantage (10 of 14 wins at home) combined with San Antonio’s downward spiral makes the Pelicans the more compelling choice, even laying the points. The absence of Wembanyama has clearly impacted the Spurs’ competitive ceiling, while the Pelicans appear positioned to capitalize on their home-court edge once again.

 

Final Prediction: New Orleans Pelicans (-5) over San Antonio Spurs

 

Insights

 

Why has San Antonio struggled so significantly without Wembanyama?

The Spurs built their defensive identity around Wembanyama’s elite rim protection and versatility. Without him, they’ve suffered a 3.2-point increase in opponent points in the paint per game and opponents are shooting 5.7% better within five feet of the basket. While Fox provides offensive production, the team’s defensive backbone has been compromised without their generational talent protecting the rim.

 

Can the Pelicans make a late-season push despite their current record?

With Zion Williamson producing at an All-Star level and their strong home-court performance (71.4% of wins coming at home), the Pelicans have shown they can compete when at full strength. Their remaining schedule features 19 home games, which could potentially allow them to improve their standing. However, the absences of Murray and Jones significantly limit their ceiling, making a dramatic turnaround unlikely unless they can get healthier.

 

What’s the most surprising statistic about this matchup?

The fact that the Spurs are one of only two NBA teams to lose a game when leading by 20+ points after the first quarter highlights their inconsistency and inability to maintain momentum. This vulnerability to significant momentum swings, combined with the Pelicans’ strength at home, creates an intriguing dynamic that could lead to unexpected game flows even if one team builds an early advantage.

 

How should fantasy basketball managers approach players from these teams?

With both squads dealing with significant injuries, several role players present interesting fantasy value. For the Spurs, Stephon Castle has seen his usage rate increase by 4.7% since Wembanyama’s injury, making him a potential streaming option. On the Pelicans side, Trey Murphy III has averaged 3.8 more field goal attempts per game with Murray sidelined, creating additional scoring opportunities that boost his fantasy ceiling.

 

What tactical adjustments should we expect from the previous matchup?

Look for the Spurs to emphasize perimeter defense after allowing the Pelicans to shoot 41.7% from three-point range in their previous meeting. San Antonio may employ more aggressive closeouts and potentially utilize more zone defense concepts to compensate for their lack of rim protection. The Pelicans will likely continue exploiting mismatches for Williamson in the paint while maintaining their approach of limiting Fox’s transition opportunities.

Get a Free Trial

Players

Categories
  1. Baylor Bears
  2. Toronto Raptors vs New Orleans Pelicans
  3. College Basketball
  4. Utah Hockey Club vs Montreal Canadiens
  5. Vegas Golden Knights
  6. Dallas Stars vs Utah Hockey Club
  7. Philadelphia Eagles vs Los Angeles Rams
  8. Milwaukee Bucks vs Miami Heat
  9. Cincinnati Bearcats
  10. North Carolina State Wolfpack vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
  11. NHL betting trends
  12. Milwaukee Bucks vs Detroit Pistons
  13. MLB
  14. Denis Shapovalov
  15. Portland Trail Blazers
  16. Francisco Cerundolo
  17. Illinois Fighting Illini
  18. Los Angeles Dodgers
  19. Boston Bruins vs Detroit Red Wings
  20. Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich
  21. Golden State Warriors vs Los Angeles Clippers
  22. Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics
  23. New England Patriots vs Miami Dolphins
  24. Kansas City Chiefs
  25. Chicago Bulls
  26. Michigan Wolverines
  27. Recent article
  28. Tulane Green Wave
  29. Alexei Popyrin
  30. Carolina Hurricanes vs Philadelphia Flyers
  31. Aryna Sabalenka
  32. Fifa News Uncategorized
  33. Washington Commanders
  34. Cleveland Browns vs Denver Broncos
  35. Buffalo Sabres
  36. Florida Panthers vs Winnipeg Jets
  37. Appalachian State Mountaineers
  38. Pittsburgh Steelers
  39. David Goffin
  40. Zizou Bergs
  41. Auburn Tigers
  42. Louisville Cardinals vs Indiana Hoosiers
  43. Charlotte Hornets
  44. Luca van Assche
  45. Cleveland Cavaliers vs Atlanta Hawks
  46. Week 3
  47. Minnesota Wild
  48. New Orleans Pelicans vs Dallas Mavericks
  49. Buffalo Bills
  50. Richard Gasquet
  51. Tomas Martin Etcheverry
  52. Jack Draper
  53. Houston Texans vs Jacksonville Jaguars
  54. Auburn Tigers vs Alabama Crimson Tide
  55. Cincinnati Bengals
  56. Toronto Raptors
  57. Winnipeg Jets vs Pittsburgh Penguins
  58. Los Angeles Chargers
  59. Minnesota Timberwolves
  60. Vancouver Canucks vs Boston Bruins
  61. Karen Khachanov
  62. Ugo Humbert
  63. Anaheim Ducks
  64. Week 11
  65. Kansas State Wildcats
  66. Colorado Avalanche
  67. Houston Rockets vs Minnesota Timberwolves
  68. San Francisco 49ers
  69. Memphis Grizzlies vs Dallas Mavericks
  70. Los Angeles Kings
  71. Boston Celtics
  72. New York Knicks vs Utah Jazz
  73. Brandon Holt
  74. Bayern Munich
  75. San Jose Sharks
  76. Golden State Warriors
  77. Indiana Hoosiers
  78. Oregon Ducks
  79. Philadelphia Flyers vs New York Rangers
  80. Seattle Kraken
  81. Memphis Tigers vs Tulane Green Wave
  82. Mississippi State Bulldogs vs UNLV Rebels
  83. Detroit Red Wings
  84. Philadelphia Eagles vs Baltimore Ravens
  85. Dallas Mavericks vs Utah Jazz
  86. Tennessee Titans
  87. Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions
  88. Panthers vs Kraken
  89. Buffalo Sabres vs Anaheim Ducks
  90. Botic Van De Zandschulp
  91. Game
  92. Charleston Southern Buccaneers
  93. Orlando Magic vs Los Angeles Clippers
  94. Jasmine Paolini
  95. Tennis
  96. New Jersey Devils
  97. Carolina Panthers
  98. New York Knicks vs Denver Nuggets
  99. Nicolas Jarry
  100. South Carolina Gamecocks
  101. Lorenzo Musetti
  102. Qinwen Zheng
  103. Marcos Giron
  104. Miami Dolphins
  105. Chicago Bears
  106. Atlanta Falcons
  107. Dallas Mavericks
  108. Los Angeles Clippers
  109. Baylor Bears vs Abilene Christian
  110. Manchester City
  111. Los Angeles Clippers vs Minnesota Timberwolves
  112. Borussia Dortmund
  113. Toronto Maple Leafs
  114. New Jersey Devils vs New York Rangers
  115. Nitto ATP Finals
  116. Laslo Djere
  117. Villanova Wildcats
  118. Baseball
  119. Oklahoma Crimson Tide
  120. Ottawa Senators vs San Jose Sharks
  121. Jakub Mensik
  122. San Diego State Aztecs
  123. Indiana Pacers
  124. Hugo Gaston
  125. Indiana Pacers vs Houston Rockets
  126. Ole Miss Rebels
  127. Alexander Zverev
  128. Liverpool vs Manchester City
  129. VCU Rams
  130. Lorenzo Sonego
  131. Baylor Bears vs St. John’s Red Storm
  132. Washington Wizards
  133. New York Knicks
  134. Liverpool
  135. New Orleans Saints
  136. Jiri Lehecka
  137. UFC
  138. Seattle Seahawks
  139. New York Islanders
  140. New York Islanders vs Calgary Flames
  141. Cincinnati Bearcats vs Villanova Wildcats
  142. Dallas Cowboys
  143. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
  144. Ball State Cardinals
  145. Utah Jazz
  146. New York Rangers
  147. Anaheim Ducks vs Dallas Stars
  148. Houston Texans
  149. Patrick Kypson
  150. Houston Rockets
  151. South Carolina State Bulldogs
  152. Cleveland Browns
  153. Denver Nuggets
  154. Ohio Bobcats
  155. Stan Wawrinka
  156. North Carolina State Wolfpack
  157. Indianapolis Colts
  158. Philadelphia Flyers
  159. Sacramento Kings
  160. San Antonio Spurs vs Phoenix Suns
  161. San Diego Padres
  162. Charlotte Hornets vs Brooklyn Nets
  163. Kei Nishikori
  164. Houston Texans vs Dallas Cowboys
  165. Alexandre Muller
  166. Vancouver Canucks
  167. East Carolina Pirates
  168. Michigan Wolverines vs Ohio State Buckeyes
  169. Taylor Fritz
  170. Xinyu Wang
  171. New York Yankees
  172. Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cleveland Browns
  173. Utah Hockey Club
  174. Seattle Kraken vs Los Angeles Kings
  175. New Orleans Pelicans
  176. Philadelphia 76ers
  177. Minnesota Vikings
  178. College Football
  179. Los Angeles Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves
  180. San Antonio Spurs
  181. Carolina Hurricanes
  182. Detroit Tigers
  183. Los Angeles Rams
  184. Pittsburgh Penguins
  185. Tulsa Golden Hurricane
  186. Memphis Tigers
  187. Columbus Blue Jackets vs Boston Bruins
  188. UNLV Rebels
  189. St. John’s Red Storm
  190. Andrey Rublev
  191. Las Vegas Raiders
  192. Philadelphia Eagles
  193. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  194. Baltimore Ravens
  195. Nashville Predators
  196. Week 1
  197. New England Patriots
  198. Minnesota Vikings vs Chicago Bears
  199. St. Louis Blues
  200. San Jose Sharks vs Dallas Stars
  201. Jannik Sinner
  202. Columbus Blue Jackets
  203. Thiago Seyboth Wild
  204. Denver Broncos
  205. Florida Panthers
  206. Texas A&M Aggies
  207. Ottawa Senators
  208. New York Jets
  209. Milwaukee Bucks
  210. Los Angeles Kings vs San Jose Sharks
  211. New York Knicks vs Dallas Mavericks
  212. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
  213. Minnesota Timberwolves vs Toronto Raptors
  214. New Mexico Lobos
  215. Alabama Crimson Tide vs Oklahoma Sooners
  216. Jacksonville Jaguars
  217. , Casper Ruud
  218. Dallas Stars vs Carolina Hurricanes
  219. Los Angeles Rams vs New Orleans Saints
  220. Purdue Boilermakers
  221. Marin Cilic
  222. Louisville Cardinals
  223. Roberto Bautista Agut
  224. Florida Gators
  225. Detroit Pistons
  226. Washington Capitals
  227. Tennessee Titans vs Houston Texans
  228. Miami of Ohio Redhawks
  229. Chicago Bulls vs Washington Wizards
  230. Soccer
  231. Montreal Canadiens
  232. Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers
  233. Orlando Magic
  234. Memphis Grizzlies
  235. Ben Shelton
  236. Dallas Stars
  237. Tomas Machac
  238. New York Giants vs Dallas Cowboys
  239. Arizona Cardinals
  240. Players
  241. Portland Trail Blazers vs Memphis Grizzlies
  242. Learner Tien
  243. NFL
  244. Dmitry Popko
  245. Cleveland Guardians
  246. Bowling Green Falcons
  247. Brandon Nakashima
  248. Penn Quakers
  249. Minnesota Lynx
  250. New York Giants
  251. Brooklyn Nets
  252. Detroit Lions
  253. Golden State Warriors vs Phoenix Suns
  254. Carlos Alcaraz
  255. Holger Rune
  256. Purdue Boilermakers vs NC State Wolfpack
  257. Los Angeles Lakers
  258. Bengals vs Cowboys
  259. Stefanos Tsitsipas
  260. Boston Bruins
  261. Novak Djokovic
  262. Tampa Bay Lightning
  263. NC State Wolfpack
  264. Golden State Warriors vs New Orleans Pelicans
  265. Indiana Hoosiers vs Ohio State Buckeyes
  266. Atlanta Hawks
  267. Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics
  268. Green Bay Packers
  269. Alabama Crimson Tide
  270. New York Liberty
  271. Denver Broncos vs Las Vegas Raiders
  272. Hamad Medjedovic
  273. LSU Tigers
  274. NHL
  275. Winnipeg Jets
  276. Mississippi State Bulldogs
  277. Nuno Borges
  278. Week 2
  279. Grigor Dimitrov
  280. Schedule
  281. Kent State Golden Flashes
  282. Baltimore Ravens vs Los Angeles Chargers
  283. Dallas Mavericks vs Denver Nuggets
  284. Miami Heat
  285. Tommy Paul
  286. Ohio State Buckeyes
  287. Mercer Bears
  288. Central Michigan Chippewas
  289. Sports
  290. Cleveland Cavaliers
  291. Chicago Bulls vs Milwaukee Bucks
  292. New York Mets
  293. Alejandro Tabilo
  294. NBA
  295. Miami Dolphins vs Green Bay Packers
  296. WNBA
  297. Arizona Cardinals vs Minnesota Vikings
  298. Oklahoma City Thunder
  299. Sacramento Kings vs Los Angeles Clippers
  300. Calgary Flames
  301. Phoenix Suns
  302. Edmonton Oilers
  303. Arkansas Razorbacks
  304. Michigan State Spartans