Poeltl's double-double helps Spurs defeat Pelicans, 112-97

Published Dec. 12, 2021 9:30 p.m. ET

Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Jakob Poeltl had 24 points and 12 rebounds, Derrick White added 24 points, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the New Orleans Pelicans 112-97 on Sunday night.

Dejounte Murray added 10 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists as San Antonio won for the fifth time in nine games. White added nine assists and eight rebounds. The Spurs’ backcourt combined to shoot 14 for 30.

Brandon Ingram had 27 points to lead New Orleans, while Jonas Valanciunas added 17 points and 12 rebounds. The Pelicans have lost four of six as they try to rebound from a nine-game skid during the first few weeks of the season.

San Antonio regrouped after being drubbed 127-111 by Denver on Saturday, especially during a 7-0 run in the fourth quarter that put the Spurs up 90-82. San Antonio would extend its lead to 101-89 with 6 minutes remaining on Doug McDermott’s 16-foot jumper.

The Spurs lead the Western Conference with an average of 53.8 points in the paint and they returned to that comfort zone with 66 points — 14 more than New Orleans.

After closing within a point on numerous occasions, New Orleans took its first lead at 50-49 with 1:03 remaining in the first half on Ingram’s 11-footer. The Pelicans' largest lead was two points.

TIP-INS

Pelicans: Star forward Zion Williamson

Spurs: San Antonio was 0-3 against Southwest Division teams prior to beating New Orleans. … Johnson’s 3-pointer with 3:04 remaining in the first quarter gave the Spurs 80,000 points at the AT&T Center. San Antonio has limited opponents to under 73,700 points since moving to the AT&T Center in 2002. … Johnson has made 3-plus 3-pointers four times in 25 games this season, surpassing his total in the previous two seasons. … Murray entered Sunday with 93 deflections, sharing the league lead with Toronto’s Fred VanVleet. Fellow Raptor Gary Trent Jr. was third with 91 deflections.

UP NEXT

Pelicans: At Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

Spurs: Host Charlotte on Wednesday.

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