The names have changed from the recent glory days of San Antonio’s franchise, with Duncan, Parker and Ginobili giving way to DeRozan and Aldridge, who’ve given way to Murray, Johnson and White. For New Orleans, the silver and black still present a major obstacle in the Southwest Division.
The Pelicans played the Spurs evenly for three quarters Sunday, trailing by a point entering the final 12 minutes, but a final-period drought proved costly for the visitors in AT&T Center. New Orleans only scored two field goals in the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter, helping San Antonio create a double-digit margin.