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New Orleans at San Antonio, Final Score: Spurs stay perfect at home, 110-97

The Spurs hold off the Pelicans and stay perfect at the AT&T Center with a fantastic night from LaMarcus Aldridge.

Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

David West once again filled in for the injured Tim Duncan in the starting line-up. The beat up Pelicans squad got off to a quick start and hit five of their first six shots. Both LaMarcus Aldridge and West were involved offensively early on and getting good looks, but on the defensive end no one could stop Anthony Davis. He was 5-for-6 in the first quarter with 12 points.

New Orleans began to miss shots and San Antonio started to make some towards the end of the quarter, and two straight Danny Green transition threes gave the Spurs the lead. A last second second-chance bucket from West made it a three point advantage for the good guys at the end of one, 30-27. Great close out to a quarter in which they trailed for the majority.

A lot of good looks for the Spurs weren't falling in the second quarter as they attempted to extend their lead, and the Pelicans stuck around, despite their own shooting struggles. To put it another way:

It wasn't the most exciting half of basketball, but there was some good basketball being played from each team's bigs. Aldridge finished the half with 14 points and two boards, and Davis had 16 and six. The Spurs went into the break with a 53-45 lead.

Green his his third triple at the start of the second half that gave the Spurs a 13 point lead and caused a New Orleans time-out. It may be to safe to say that Danny has found his shot, which will be big for San Antonio going forward as their schedule gets tougher.

A 22-6 run for New Orleans in the third gave them the lead after SA led by 15. The Spurs continued to feed LaMarcus, and he and Davis both had great quarters. AD and LMA began to go at each other and it was fun to watch. Aldridge did a great job using fakes to get the shot-blocking Davis off of his feet for some easy buckets inside. Through three quarters, LaMarcus had 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting, and The Brow had 25 on 10-of-18.

Two threes from Green and Manu Ginobili to end the third gave the Spurs a four point cushion going into the final quarter, 83-79. SA was lighting it up from downtown, and were 8-for-9 from deep at this point.

The Pelicans stuck around for the majority of the fourth, but the Spurs eventually pulled away. LaMarcus was absolutely spectacular with 36 points, a season high, on 12-of-20 shooting (12-for-12 from the free throw line), and six rebounds. Kawhi Leonard was great as well, with 26 points of his own. I have a feeling that the Spurs will win most games when those two combine for 60+.

The Spurs hold off Anthony Davis and the Pelicans, win 110-97. They improve to 41-8 on the season and remain perfect at home.