De’Aaron Fox makes his long-awaited season debut on Saturday when the San Antonio Spurs host the infirmary-ridden New Orleans Pelicans. It is going to be the second night time of a back-to-back for the Spurs, whereas their company final performed on Wednesday. Even with NOLA’s absences, they’ll’t be taken calmly as a result of there’s an NBA phenomenon of undermanned groups upsetting opponents.
Contemplating how the season began, it might be an enormous blow to San Antonio’s credibility in the event that they play poorly in a tune-up.
San Antonio Spurs (6-2) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (2-6)Nov. 8, 2025, 7:00 PM CTWatch: FanDuel SW | Hear: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs accidents: Not due till 1PM
Pelicans accidents: Zion Williamson (left hamstring pressure) — out; Dejounte Murray (Achilles) — out; Yves Missi (sickness ) — out; Jordan Poole (left quad pressure) — out; Hunter Dickinson (G League) — out; Trey Alexander (G League) — out
Fox and Wembanyama lashing coverages
It wouldn’t be very Spurs-like for them to force-feed Fox, however he’ll get loads of burn taking part in throughout the offense. He also needs to get some simple appears to be like on the baseline or the slot shifting off Stephon Fortress’s penetration. Moreover, regardless of Wembanyama solely averaging one display screen help per sport, depend on the Spurs upping their screen-roll and hand-off frequency to get Fox appears to be like within the half-court. Harrison Barnes would be the joyful recipient of pictures within the nook when Fox and Wemby resolve to run two-man actions.
One of many different units that ought to make Fox additional deadly is when Wemby decides to provoke offense up courtroom. Defenses naturally key in on the person with the ball, permitting for somebody with velocity to get free simply on a minimize.
Don’t be stunned if the perfect defender on Wemby is Herb Jones, a 6-foot-8, 210-pound ahead. He doesn’t have the scale to hassle the discharge level, however has the foot velocity to stick with the dribble plus fast palms to swipe at it. The Miami Warmth already tried guarding him with smaller gamers to disrupt his dribble, however Jones being stronger might have extra success.
The Pelicans could also be a median 3-point taking pictures crew, however they’re much sharper at piecing the center of the protection. They assault by display screen rolls utilizing a number of weapons: Jose Alvarado and rookie Jeremiah Fears, who averages 5.1 makes an attempt per sport. Alvarado is a proficient shooter on this set and can’t be left in drop protection, however Fears can as a result of he makes 30 p.c of 3-point tries.
They’ll in all probability begin Kevon Looney at heart, however all he’ll have the ability to do is be a bodily pressure in opposition to Wemby across the basket. The Pelicans will probably be at a extreme drawback when he sits as a result of the subsequent true massive man choice to come back in can be what’s left of DeAndre Jordan.
NOLA can also be one of many slower groups within the NBA, just like the Spurs, however they differ after that as a result of they collectively can’t guard a parked automobile. Ball and physique motion goes to tear them aside like meat going by a grinder.
Trey Murphy III getting additional utilization
Murphy would be the greatest risk for NOLA, and the Spurs can count on him to the touch the ball not less than 60 instances. He solely averages 2.1 dribbles per contact, which implies that most of his makes an attempt are catch-and-go strikes up shut or fast pictures off the catch. Apparently, his quantity within the corners has dropped to three.4 p.c of 3-point tries, which ought to make it simpler to protect him. The Spur checking him nonetheless has to lock and path properly over screens as a result of Murphy’s accuracy plummets when a defender will get inside 4 ft.
