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San Antonio Spurs vs New Orleans Pelicans
The San Antonio Spurs travel to the Smoothie King Center to take on the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, October 24, 2025 (8:00 PM ET) in a Southwest Division matchup that’s suddenly loaded with intrigue.
San Antonio opened its season by dismantling Dallas behind a masterclass from Victor Wembanyama, while New Orleans blew a halftime lead in Memphis.
The question now: can the Pelicans slow down the 7’4” phenom who looks ready to dominate the league?
Fans can watch this one live on the Gulf Sports Network.
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Line Movement and Odds
Oddsmakers opened San Antonio as small road favorites after their 33-point demolition of Dallas. Early betting has backed the Spurs, who enter riding an undefeated preseason and a +33 point differential through one game.
Current Odds:
- Spurs Spread: -3.5 (-111)
- Pelicans Spread: +3.5 (-110)
- Spurs MoneyLine: -164
- Pelicans MoneyLine: +136
- Over/Under: 231
For real-time odds movement and matchup data, check the NBA scores and odds page.
The Spurs Can Win If…
The San Antonio Spurs are playing connected basketball — and it starts with Wembanyama.
In the 125–92 rout of the Mavericks, he erupted for 40 points, 15 rebounds, and zero turnovers, showing poise beyond his years. San Antonio dominated the paint (68–26), ran the floor, and dictated every possession.
The Spurs currently lead the NBA in:
- Field goal percentage (57.5%)
- Opponent points per game (92.0)
- Effective FG% (65.1%)
Coach Mitch Johnson praised the team’s discipline:
“The most impressive line is zero turnovers. The amount of fundamentally sound plays he made was really, really impressive.”
Rookie Stephon Castle (22 points) and Dylan Harper (15 off the bench) gave San Antonio balance on both ends. If they keep executing out of timeouts and rotating defensively like they did in Dallas, the Spurs can control the tempo again — even if De’Aaron Fox (hamstring) sits another night.
To explore San Antonio’s advanced shooting and efficiency stats, check the NBA teams section.
The Pelicans Can Win If…
The New Orleans Pelicans put up a fight in Memphis, but a disastrous third quarter (outscored by 19) flipped what looked like a comfortable win into a 128–122 loss.
Zion Williamson was electric early, posting 27 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, but turnovers and defensive lapses crushed the Pelicans’ rhythm.
They’ve now dropped eight straight games dating back to last season, and their body language reflected that frustration late in the fourth quarter.
Still, there’s plenty of firepower:
- 11th in scoring (122.0 PPG)
- 3rd in field-goal attempts (96 per game)
- Top 10 in rebounding margin (+6.0)
If Williamson gets consistent help from Herbert Jones and Jordan Poole, and the Pelicans can limit second-chance points, they can challenge San Antonio’s size.
The key will be weathering Wembanyama’s length and keeping pace in transition.
For situational betting angles and public trends, visit the NBA expert betting guide.
Betting Trends
- Spurs are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games dating back to preseason.
- Pelicans are 0-8 straight up in their last eight overall.
- Under is 5-1 in San Antonio’s last six road games.
- Spurs have covered four straight against New Orleans.
- Pelicans are 1-6 ATS in their last seven as home underdogs.
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Prediction and Analysis
The Pelicans can score, but the Spurs’ defense and discipline look different this year. Wembanyama’s two-way dominance and San Antonio’s balanced shooting give them a clear edge in execution. Expect New Orleans to make a few early runs at home, but San Antonio’s length and ball movement should eventually wear them down.
Projected Score: Spurs 120, Pelicans 110
Best Bet: Spurs -3.5 (-111)
Total Lean: Under 231 (-110)
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