Victor Wembanyama scored 25 points, including the last seven for San Antonio in the final 36.9 seconds of the game, leading the Spurs to a 121-116 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night.
San Antonio had an 11-point lead with 5:02 left in the game, but CJ McCollum’s layup with one minute remaining capped a 13-0 run that gave the Pelicans a 116-114 lead.
Wembanyama hit a 3-pointer with 36.9 seconds left to put San Antonio back in front, and then he made two free throws 16.9 seconds later to extend the Spurs’ lead to three points. After Trey Murphy III of New Orleans missed a 3-pointer with 9.5 seconds left, Wembanyama grabbed the rebound, was fouled, and sealed the win with two more free throws.
Chris Paul recorded 10 assists for the Spurs, passing Jason Kidd to move into second place on the all-time assists list. With 12,099 career assists, Paul trails only John Stockton, who has 15,806 assists.
Victor Wembanyama reacts in the game
Wembanyama also had 10 rebounds in his return from a two-game absence due to a sore back. Stephon Castle scored 22 points, Harrison Barnes and Charles Bassey each had 16, and Julian Champagnie added 12, helping the Spurs end a three-game losing streak. Bassey also grabbed 12 rebounds.
Trey Murphy led the Pelicans with 25 points, while CJ McCollum scored 19. Dejounte Murray had 18 points and 11 assists, and Yves Missi added 18 points and 14 rebounds. The Pelicans have lost two straight games and 11 of their last 12.
The Spurs were down by six points after the first quarter, but they took the lead at 56-54 when Wembanyama made a 3-pointer with 4:21 left in the second quarter. McCollum tied the game at 56 with a floater, but San Antonio pulled ahead with an 11-0 run, finished off by a three-pointer from Chris Paul with 2:14 left in the first half.
The Spurs led 71-62 at halftime.