For about 12 minutes on Sunday night, the San Antonio Spurs looked like they were about to flip the script in dramatic fashion. After trailing by 20 points in the third quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio stormed all the way back to take a five-point lead with five minutes left in regulation. But just when it seemed like the momentum had fully swung, the Pelicans tightened up defensively and closed the game strong, handing the Spurs a 104-95 loss.
The comeback was sparked not by the usual suspects, but by a bold move from interim head coach Mitch Johnson. Midway through the third, Johnson pulled all five starters and rolled with a bench unit that featured rookies Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant. That decision lit a fire.
Bryant, in particular, continues to show flashes of why the Spurs are so high on him. In just seven minutes of action, he knocked down a pair of threes and finished with six points.
But it wasn’t just the numbers-it was the confidence. He played like he belonged, stepping into his shots with no hesitation and bringing a jolt of energy that the Spurs desperately needed at that point in the game.
Harper brought his usual brand of downhill aggression. He’s not putting up gaudy stats just yet-he finished with five points, six boards, and three assists-but his impact was undeniable.
Whether it was pushing the pace in transition or attacking gaps in the half-court, Harper gave San Antonio a much-needed spark. At 6-foot-6, he’s got the length and physicality to finish through contact, and even though he’s not an elite leaper, he’s surprised more than a few defenders this season with his bounce.
The game also marked the return of Devin Vassell, who hadn’t seen the floor in a month. He came off the bench and delivered exactly what the Spurs hoped for: shot-making and floor spacing.
Vassell poured in 13 points, knocked down a couple of threes, and looked comfortable sliding back into the rhythm of the offense. His ability to stretch the floor and hit tough shots-like the mid-range jumper he nailed off a baseline out-of-bounds play-adds a much-needed scoring option for San Antonio heading into the second half of the season.
Victor Wembanyama had a relatively quiet night by his standards, but even his “quiet” games come with highlight-reel moments. Wemby finished with 16 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocks.
The signature moment? A monster poster dunk over Derrick Queen that felt straight out of the Blake Griffin playbook.
Just pure power-elevating through contact and throwing it down with authority.
Defensively, Wembanyama reminded everyone why he’s already one of the league’s most intimidating rim protectors. In one sequence, he went straight up against Yves Missi and blocked him not once, but twice on the same possession. No fouling, no overcommitting-just perfect timing and length.
And then there was a rare but welcome sight: the return of “Area 51”-the nickname fans have given to the connection between Stephon Castle and Wembanyama. Castle drew two defenders in the half-court and lofted a perfect lob to the big man for the finish. It’s been a while since those two linked up like that, but the chemistry is still there.
Next up, San Antonio hits the road for a rematch with the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night. If the Spurs can bottle up the energy and execution they showed during that third-quarter run, they’ll have a shot. But as Sunday night reminded us, the NBA is a 48-minute game-and the young Spurs are still learning how to finish what they start.