Pelicans squander 20-point lead, rebound to beat Spurs 104-95

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Saddiq Bey and Zion Williamson each had 24 points and 10 rebounds and the New Orleans Pelicans squandered a 20-point lead before rebounding to beat the San Antonio Spurs 104-95 on Sunday night.

San Antonio held a 24-5 advantage to open the fourth quarter, but New Orleans closed the game on a 17-3 run to avoid a season sweep by the Spurs.

Victor Wembanyama had 16 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks to lead San Antonio. Keldon Johnson added 15 points as the Spurs failed to capitalize on a double-digit rally.

New Orleans’ lead swelled to 19 points midway through the third quarter, leading San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson to sub out his entire starting lineup following a timeout.

The lineup change worked as San Antonio went on a 21-4 run bridging the third and fourth quarters. The Spurs scored 16 straight points to close the run.

Stephon Castle made the second of two free throws to put San Antonio up 93-89 with 4:39 remaining.

The Spurs were 19 for 32 on free throws, including missing their final four free throws with the Pelicans leading 98-93.

Trey Murphy III added 17 points, nine assists and six rebounds for New Orleans, which won its second straight.

The Spurs had their entire rotation available for the first time since Dec. 29 with Devin Vassell returning from a strained left adductor.

Vassell finished with 13 points in 25 minutes.

New Orleans closed the first half on a 19-8 run in taking a 56-47 lead.

Timberwolves: At Oklahoma City on Tuesday night.

Spurs: At Houston on Wednesday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) drives to the basket over San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) reacts after he was fouled while scoring against New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) scores past New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III (25) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) flips over San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) as they chase a rebound during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Saddiq Bey (41) drives against San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Defending champion Madison Keys has been knocked out of the Australian Open by fellow American, and podcast pal, Jessica Pegula.

Pegula, seeded sixth, defeated the ninth-seeded Keys 6-3, 6-4 on Monday at Rod Laver Arena to reach the quarterfinals. Pegula, who has never claimed a Grand Slam, won the first set in only 32 minutes.

Pegula raced to a 4-1 lead in the first set, and Pegula also broke to open the second set and again surged to a 4-1 lead as Keys struggled with her serve. The match ended when Keys hit a forehand into the net.

“I’ve been playing really well, seeing the ball, hitting the ball really well this whole tournament, and I wanted to stay true to that,” said 31-year-old Pegula. “Then just lean into a couple things that I felt like she would do, and I felt like I came out doing it pretty well

“When I had the lead I tried to stick with that as much as I could.

“Even when she got a little rhythm back, I just really tried to focus on what I needed to do and patterns to look out for.”

Pegula and Keys had played three times previously, and Keys had won the last two. But on Monday it was Pegula that had the upper hand almost throughout on the back of her serve accuracy and few unforced errors.

It will Pegula's fourth appearance in the quarterfinals in Australia. Her best performance in a major was making the U.S. Open final in 2024, where she lost to Aryna Sabalenka.

In a later match Monday at Rod Laver Arena, fifth-seeded man Lorenzo Musetti faced American Taylor Fritz, who is seeded No. 9.

In night matches, second-ranked Iga Świątek was up against Australian Maddison Inglis, and the eighth-seeded man Ben Shelton faced Casper Ruud.

Novak Djokovic was due to be the feature night match at Rod Laver Arena on Monday but has had a walkover into the quarterfinals after his opponent Jakub Mensik withdrew from their scheduled fourth-round match with an abdominal injury.

Jessica Pegula, left, of the U.S., is congratulated by her compatriot Madison Keys after winning their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Madison Keys of the U.S. plays a backhand return to her compatriot Jessica Pegula during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Jessica Pegula of the U.S. plays a backhand return to her compatriot Madison Keys during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Madison Keys of the U.S. reacts during her fourth round match against her compatriot Jessica Pegula at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Jessica Pegula of the U.S. plays a backhand return to her compatriot Madison Keys during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)