PREVIEW: The San Antonio Spurs (31-14) will host the New Orleans Pelicans (11-36) , setting up a matchup between one of the Western Conference's most dominant teams and its worst performer this season. The Spurs have been heating up lately, winning four of their last five games overall , powered by a dynamic offensive arsenal that keeps opponents guessing. San Antonio excels at limiting rim attacks and boasts elite defensive rebounding, while the Pelicans rank first in attacking the rim but struggle significantly on that same end defensively . This defensive contrast will be critical, as San Antonio averages 117.9 points while outscoring opponents by 5.3 points per game. New Orleans snapped a three-game losing streak with a 133-127 road victory over Memphis on Friday, with Saddiq Bey leading the charge with 36 points while Trey Murphy III added 32. The Pelicans' offensive weaknesses are well documented, including inefficient three-point shooting (ranked 29th) and poor ball movement , factors that could prove problematic against a disciplined Spurs defense. The Pelicans remain without Dejounte Murray and have Jose Alvarado listed as questionable , while the Spurs are as healthy as they have been all season, which certainly helps with continuity. Notably, New Orleans has an impressive 5-1 record against the spread in games when underdogs by 12 points or more this season , suggesting the visiting team could keep things competitive despite the significant talent disparity.