Wembanyama’s 9 Blocks Lift Spurs Past Pelicans 120-116

The San Antonio Spurs opened their 2025-26 regular season with a statement on the road, defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 120-116 on October 24, 2025, at the Smoothie King Center. Victor Wembanyama delivered a breathtaking two-way performance — 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 blocks — before fouling out late, testing this young Spurs squad’s ability to close without their cornerstone.

32 Minutes of Dominance, Then a Foul-Out Finish

San Antonio came out assertive, establishing Wembanyama as the focal point of both ends of the floor. The Frenchman was a wrecking ball in the paint, converting 13 of 23 field-goal attempts while swatting away shot after shot from an aggressive Pelicans offense. Through the first half, the Spurs built a cushion on the back of his interior presence, supplemented by early contributions from Devin Vassell, who would go on to finish with 23 points on six three-pointers.

The third quarter brought renewed drama. Zion Williamson, determined to impose his will, emphatically dunked over the n°1 pick of the 2023 Draft for a poster and-one that briefly swung momentum toward New Orleans. Williamson’s relentless attack on the foul line — 11-for-16 from the stripe — kept the Pelicans within striking distance heading into the final frame.

By the fourth quarter, the pivot des Spurs had fouled out, forcing San Antonio to lean on its depth. Devin Vassell anchored the offense while Stephon Castle steadied the attack with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. Dylan Harper, despite shooting just 3-of-12 from the field, converted all 6 of his free-throw attempts to help San Antonio survive a late New Orleans surge and seal the 120-116 final.

Zion’s Poster and the Battle That Defined the Night

The defining sequence of the contest came when Williamson rose over Wembanyama for one of the most visceral plays of the young NBA season. The and-one swing energized a raucous Smoothie King Center crowd and drew the Pelicans within single digits. Yet the Spurs refused to buckle. Luke Kornet, often overshadowed by the star power around him, posted a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds, providing the steady frontcourt anchor San Antonio needed once the phénomène exited. Trey Murphy III finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds for New Orleans, and Jordan Poole added 21 points, but the Pelicans ultimately could not overcome their -15 plus-minus deficit in Poole’s minutes.

Wembanyama’s Historic Shot-Blocking Night

Victor Wembanyama’s 9 blocks in just 32 minutes stand as one of the most dominant defensive performances of the season’s opening week. His final stat line reads:

• 29 points (13/23 FG, 3/4 FT)
• 11 rebounds
• 2 assists, 1 steal, 9 blocks

The minus-12 plus-minus is a reminder that elite individual production does not always translate to a net positive on the scoreboard — but in this case, his presence was the structural reason San Antonio controlled the game’s tempo for three quarters.

Team Depth Answers the Bell

When the franchise player fouled out, the Spurs did not collapse — a meaningful early signal. Vassell’s shooting, Castle’s playmaking, and Kornet’s physical presence formed a coherent closing unit. The balanced contribution across the roster (five players in double figures) suggests San Antonio has genuine depth this season.

New Orleans’ Concerning Night

The Pelicans, despite strong individual numbers from Williamson (27 pts, 10 reb, 7 ast), Murphy III, and Poole, could not generate enough consistent offense or defensive stops in the fourth quarter. New Orleans will need sharper execution if they hope to compete in a loaded Western Conference.

What Comes Next

San Antonio heads into the rest of October riding an unblemished record, with the Spurs’ ability to win without a fully healthy Wembanyama now a tested reality. The next challenge will reveal whether this squad can maintain that perfect start against stiffer competition — and whether the French phenomenon can stay out of foul trouble long enough to dominate all four quarters.