The New Orleans Pelicans shocked the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night with a gritty 104–95 win, but one moment stole the spotlight.
Yves Missi, the young Pelicans centre, blew past Spurs star Victor Wembanyama late in the game and slammed home a thunderous one-handed dunk.
The play lit up social media and summed up a night where New Orleans outmuscled and outworked their opponents.
The result matters because it showed real fight from a struggling Pelicans side and highlighted Missi’s growing confidence against one of the NBA’s most talked-about players.
What happened during Spurs vs Pelicans?
In the final two minutes, with the game still tense, Missi received the ball near the perimeter. He drove hard into the paint, beat Wembanyama off the dribble, and finished with a powerful dunk that silenced the home crowd.
PELS WIN AGAIN#Pelicans | @HancockWhitney pic.twitter.com/EnlgKgT9YG
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) January 26, 2026
It was the defining highlight of the Spurs vs. Pelicans clash and a rare defensive lapse for Wembanyama, who is widely seen as one of the NBA’s elite young defenders.
Why was Yves Missi’s dunk so significant?
Missi has seen his minutes drop this season. With Zion Williamson returning to fitness and Derik Queen earning more court time, Missi’s role has shrunk.
Yet this moment showed he is far from finished. Scoring so decisively against Wembanyama, a player many rate as a future MVP, sent a clear message to coaches and fans alike.
“That’s a confidence play,” one NBA analyst said during the broadcast. “You don’t attack Wembanyama like that unless you believe in yourself.”
How did the Pelicans beat the Spurs overall?
The Pelicans didn’t just rely on one highlight. They controlled the game through physical play and smart movement, especially after half-time.
Key team stats (Sunday’s game)
| Category | Pelicans | Spurs |
|---|---|---|
| Rebounds | 58 | 46 |
| Points in the paint | 56 | 32 |
| Final score | 104 | 95 |
New Orleans outscored San Antonio 57–40 across the second and third quarters, which proved decisive.
Who stood out for New Orleans?
Missi backed up his dunk with a solid all-around performance:
- Yves Missi: 10 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks
- Zion Williamson: 24 points, 10 rebounds
- Saddiq Bey: 24 points, 10 rebounds
- Trey Murphy III: 17 points, 9 assists
Four players reached double figures, showing strong team balance.
What does this result mean for the Spurs?
For San Antonio, the loss exposed ongoing issues inside the paint. Despite Wembanyama’s presence, the Spurs struggled to protect the rim and lost the rebounding battle.
The Pelicans are steamrolling the Spurs right now. Zion Williamson is going right at Wemby and winning that battle, while Saddiq Bey is getting whatever he wants in the paint too. They’ve combined for 37 points and New Orleans is suddenly up 20 and San Antonio just hasn’t found… pic.twitter.com/ZLkQpIzFad
— SpursRΞPORTΞR (@SpursReporter) January 26, 2026
Coach Gregg Popovich will likely focus on defensive positioning and physicality before their next fixture.
Where do the Pelicans go from here?
Despite the win, the New Orleans Pelicans remain near the bottom of the Western Conference with a 12–36 record. They sit just half a game behind the Sacramento Kings and four games off the Utah Jazz.
They stay on the road and face the Oklahoma City Thunder next.
