By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-12-08 23:06:36
圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle) (5号) 在2025年12月8日星期一于新奥尔良举行的一场NBA篮球赛第四节中，面对新奥尔良鹈鹕队后卫/前锋萨迪克·贝 (Saddiq Bey) (41号) 完成扣篮。(美联社照片/Matthew Hinton)
新奥尔良电 – 在克利夫兰经历了一场糟糕的比赛后，马刺队新秀后卫迪伦·哈珀 (Dylan Harper) 誓言要在下一场比赛中做得更好。
他在周一兑现了诺言。
比赛终场前9.1秒，哈珀命中一记高难度的右手扭身突破上篮，为球队拿下反超比分的关键两分，帮助马刺队在经历下半场崩盘后，最终在冰沙王中心以135-132的比分幸存下来，战胜了新奥尔良鹈鹕队。
哈珀全场砍下赛季新高的22分，帮助马刺队避免了一场耻辱性的失利，他们的对手鹈鹕队目前战绩为3胜23负。
然而，这位马刺队天赋异禀的后卫甚至不是本场比赛中表现最出色的新秀。
新奥尔良队的德里克·奎因 (Derik Queen) 爆砍33分、10个篮板和10次助攻，拿下其职业生涯的首次三双，并帮助球队在首节一度落后25分的情况下奋起直追。
哈里森·巴恩斯 (Harrison Barnes) 得到24分，而因臀部伤势自11月16日以来首次出战的斯蒂芬·卡斯尔贡献了18分。
鹈鹕队在下半场发起反击，在比赛还剩30秒时凭借奎因的上篮以132-131反超比分。哈珀随即突破杀入禁区，为马刺队重新夺回领先优势。在鹈鹕队的下一个回合中，奎因错失一记空位三分，随后德阿隆·福克斯 (De’Aaron Fox) 两罚全中，马刺队最终在萨迪克·贝的压哨三分不中后惊险取胜。
马刺队本赛季在领先20分以上的情况下保持不败（4胜0负），惊险地避免了首次失利。以下是这场来之不易的胜利背后的三大看点，此役过后马刺队的总战绩提升至16胜7负：
- 后场组合仍需磨合
卡斯尔的回归意味着本赛季首次，他、福克斯和哈珀能够同时出战。
正如周一的比赛所显示的，他们之间还有一些问题需要解决。卡斯尔掌控了大量球权，在努力摆脱久疏战阵的生疏感时，交出了15投5中并出现3次失误的答卷。
福克斯在场上时而显得不确定何时应该挺身而出，最终得到14分——这是自维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 受伤以来他的个人最低得分。他全场11投4中，有4次失误。
最终站出来的是那位新秀。
在克利夫兰打出职业生涯最差表现（11投1中仅得3分）之后，哈珀或许在新奥尔良迎来了他最好的一场比赛。
哈珀不仅得分创下赛季新高，而且他的得分都恰逢其时——没有哪一分比他最后的准绝杀更关键。
- 又是“马刺第三节”
上半场，马刺队一度痛击鹈鹕，中场休息时以77-57领先。接着，对他们来说世界上最糟糕的事情发生了：第三节开始了。
和周五在克利夫兰时一样，马刺队在下半场开始后彻底崩盘。骑士队在第三节以44-19取胜。而此役，新奥尔良鹈鹕队则单节以45-23反超马刺，并带着两分的领先优势进入第四节。
在周一比赛的第三节，鹈鹕队在26个进攻回合中成功得分21次。
从净效率值来看，马刺队本赛季在第一节和第四节的表现都位列联盟前五。这很不错。
但他们的第三节表现却一直是彻头彻尾的灾难。这是马刺队要想实现目标就必须解决的问题。
- 博雷戈深植于马刺的根基
距离詹姆斯·博雷戈 (James Borrego) 离开圣安东尼奥，开启其执教生涯的新篇章，已经过去了近七年。
然而，马刺队从未离开过他。
“它流淌在我的血液里，根植于我的DNA中，”这位新奥尔良的临时主教练说道。
博雷戈的NBA生涯始于2003年马刺队的录像分析室，并一直在教练组任职至2010赛季结束。
在新奥尔良和奥兰多担任助教后，博雷戈于2015年回到圣安东尼奥，成为格雷格·波波维奇 (Gregg Popovich) 教练团队中的一名正式席位助教。他在那里又度过了三个赛季，之后获得了夏洛特黄蜂队的主教练职位。
在11月15日威利·格林 (Willie Green) 被解雇后，博雷戈接任鹈鹕队临时主教练，他发现自己在工作中几乎每天都会想起波波维奇。
“我不会每天都给他打电话，因为那样会把他烦死的，”博雷戈说。“但我会思考，‘在这些时刻，波波会怎么做？’”
48岁的博雷戈在新奥尔良面临着相当大的挑战。在周一的比赛之前，鹈鹕队在过去的16场比赛中输掉了15场。
他深厚的马刺履历应该能帮助博雷戈带领球队走完这个堪称悲惨的赛季余下的赛程。
San Antonio Spurs forward/guard Keldon Johnson (3) shoots against New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Saddiq Bey (41) during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado (15) tells center Derik Queen (22) to keep his chin up after he missed a last second shot that would have given the Pelicans the lead in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
New Orleans Pelicans center Derik Queen (22) reacts after a score during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III (25) reacts after a dunk against San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III (25) battles San Antonio Spurs center/forward Luke Kornet (7) for the ball during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) reacts driving to the basket next to New Orleans Pelicans center Derik Queen (22) of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
San Antonio Spurs center/forward Luke Kornet (7) shoots against New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi (21) during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) reacts after a three-point basket against New Orleans Pelicans guard Bryce McGowens (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
San Antonio Spurs forward/guard Keldon Johnson (3) dunks against New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
San Antonio Spurs forward/guard Keldon Johnson (3) dunks against New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III, second from left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Saddiq Bey (41) shoots against San Antonio Spurs forward/guard Keldon Johnson during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
San Antonio Spurs guard Jordan McLaughlin (0) shoots against San Antonio Spurs forward Carter Bryant (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
San Antonio Spurs forward Carter Bryant (11) dunks against New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado (15) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
San Antonio Spurs forward/guard Keldon Johnson (3) gets a hand in his face from teammate forward/center Kelly Olynyk while going up for rebound next to New Orleans Pelicans forward/center Karlo Matkovic during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox reacts next to San Antonio Spurs Associate head coach Sean Sweeney during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
New Orleans Pelicans forward/center Karlo Matkovic (17) dunks against San Antonio Spurs forward/guard Keldon Johnson (3) and forward/center Kelly Olynyk during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie reacts after a three-point basket against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III, left, blocks a shot of San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan, second from left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi (21) fouls San Antonio Spurs guard/forward Devin Vassell (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
San Antonio Spurs Associate head coach Sean Sweeney reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
点击查看原文：3 Takeaways as Dylan Harper lifts Spurs over Pelicans
3 Takeaways as Dylan Harper lifts Spurs over Pelicans
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) dunks against New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Saddiq Bey (41) during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
NEW ORLEANS – After a miserable showing in Cleveland, Spurs rookie guard Dylan Harper vowed to be better his next time out.
He made good on that Monday.
Harper’s twisting right-handed drive with 9.1 seconds remaining provided the go-ahead points as the Spurs survived a second-half meltdown to win 135-132 over New Orleans at the Smoothie King Center.
Harper finished with a season-best 22 points, helping the Spurs avoid what would have been a ignominious defeat against the now 3-23 Pelicans.
The Spurs’ precocious guard was not even the best rookie in the game, however.
New Orleans’ Derik Queen exploded for 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his first career triple-double, helping his team rally from a 25-point first half deficit.
Harrison Barnes had 24 points and Stephon Castle – playing in his first game since Nov. 16 while dealing with a hip injury – added 18.
The Pelicans rallied in the second half to take a 132-131 on a Queen layup with 30 seconds to go. Harper responded by knifing into the lane to regain the lead for the Spurs. Queen missed an open 3-pointer on New Orleans’ next possession, De’Aaron Fox made a pair of free throws, and the Spurs survived another 3-point miss from Saddiq Bey at the horn.
The Spurs narrowly avoided losing for the first time this season when leading by 20, improving to 4-0. Here are three takeaways from Monday’s near-miss of a victory, which expanded the Spurs’ overall record to 16-7:
1. Backcourt will take some figuring out
Castle’s return meant the first time this season he, Fox and Harper were available in the same game.
As Monday showed, there will be some wrinkles to iron out. Castle dominated the ball, and battled through rust on his way to a 5-of-15 showing that included three turnovers.
Fox at times seemed unsure of when to assert himself, and finished with 14 points – his lowest-scoring outing since before Victor Wembanyama was hurt. He was 4-of-11 with four turnovers.
It was the rookie who came up big.
Harper followed up his worst showing as a pro in Cleveland – 1-of-11 with three points – with perhaps his best in New Orleans.
Not only did Harper reach a season scoring high, his points were well-timed – none bigger than his last.
2. Those third quarters, though
The Spurs were laying a beating on the Pelicans in the first half, and were ahead 77-57 at intermission. Then the worst thing in the world that could happen to them happened: The third quarter.
As it was Friday in Cleveland, the Spurs completely fell apart in the minutes after halftime. The Cavaliers won the third quarter 44-19. New Orleans outscored the Spurs 45-23 to take a two-point lead into the fourth.
The Pelicans scored on 21 of 26 possessions in the third quarter Monday.
In terms of net rating, the Spurs have been a top-5 team in first and fourth quarters this season. That’s good.
Their third quarters have been unmitigated disasters. It is something the Spurs must clean up to get where they want to go.
3. Borrego leaning on Spurs roots
It has been nearly seven years since James Borrego left the San Antonio portion of his coaching career behind.
The Spurs, however, have never left him.
“It’s in my veins, it’s in my DNA,” New Orleans’ interim head coach said.
Borrego began his NBA career in Spurs’ film room in 2003 and remained on staff through the end of the 2010 campaign.
After assistant gigs in New Orleans and Orlando, Borrego returned to San Antonio. as a full-fledged bench assistant on Gregg Popovich’s staff in 2015. He spent three more seasons there before earning the head coaching job in Charlotte.
Having taken over as the Pelicans’ interim coach after the firing of Willie Green on Nov. 15, Borrego finds himself thinking of Popovich almost every day on the job.
“I don’t call him every day, because I would wear him out,” Borrego said. “But I think about ‘What would Pop do in these moments?’ ”
Borrego, 48, faces quite a challenge in New Orleans. The Pelicans entered Monday’s game having lost 15 of their previous 16 games.
His Spurs pedigree should serve Borrego well as he hopes to help the team navigate what remains of a miserable season.
By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News