Game Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. New Orleans Pelicans
De’Aaron Fox is set to make his long-awaited season debut on Saturday as the San Antonio Spurs host the injury-plagued New Orleans Pelicans. The Spurs will be playing the second night of a back-to-back, while the Pelicans last played on Wednesday.
Despite New Orleans' many absences, they remain a threat, as NBA history shows undermanned teams can still upset their opponents. For San Antonio, performing well in this game is crucial to maintaining their credibility after a challenging season start.
Injury Updates
- Pelicans: Zion Williamson (left hamstring strain) — out; Dejounte Murray (Achilles) — out; Yves Missi (illness) — out; Jordan Poole (left quad strain) — out; Hunter Dickinson (G League) — out; Trey Alexander (G League) — out
- Spurs: Injury report expected by 1 PM.
Fox and Wembanyama Offensive Roles
While the Spurs are unlikely to force-feed Fox the ball, he is expected to receive significant playing time within the offense. He will likely find easy scoring opportunities on the baseline or in the slot off Stephon Castle’s penetration.
Although Wembanyama averages just one screen assist per game, the Spurs plan to increase their use of screen-rolls and hand-offs to create scoring chances for Fox in the half-court.
Harrison Barnes is anticipated to benefit as a key shooter, especially from the corners, when Fox and Wembanyama run two-man actions.
"Even with NOLA’s absences, they can’t be taken lightly because there’s an NBA phenomenon of undermanned teams upsetting opponents."
"Considering how the season started, it would be a massive blow to San Antonio’s credibility if they play poorly in a tune-up."
Author's summary: The Spurs must leverage key players De’Aaron Fox and Wembanyama creatively to overcome the Pelicans' depleted roster and maintain their season's momentum.