On Monday, the San Antonio Spurs will travel to New Orleans to face the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center. The Spurs (15-7) arrive as clear favorites and they could have some key reinforcements back on the floor for this contest. The Pelicans (3-21) are in the midst of a painful season and desperate for a home win. Before tip-off from the Crescent City, you can continue reading to find my Spurs vs Pelicans prediction for Monday night.
Our Spurs vs Pelicans Pick
Pick: Spurs –9.5
Confidence: ★★★★☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: San Antonio Spurs @ New Orleans Pelicans
- Date & Time: Monday, December 8, 2025, 8:00 PM ET
- Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Broadcast: NBA League Pass
Key Storylines
- The Spurs are dealing with multiple injuries. Victor Wembanyama remains out with a calf issue. Stephon Castle is listed as day-to-day but might return to action tonight. Luke Kornet is also day-to-day with an ankle concern. Jordan McLaughlin is unlikely to play because of a hamstring strain. The return of Castle would be huge for the Spurs if he was able to return for this matchup.
- For the Pelicans, several key players are sidelined. Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, and Jordan Poole are all out. Herbert Jones is listed as day-to-day. That leaves the bulk of the offensive burden on Trey Murphy III for now, which has not been a recipe for success whatsoever for the Pelicans.
- San Antonio’s recent form is solid. They remain among the better teams in the Western Conference, holding a 15-7 record. Even missing major contributors, their supporting cast has shown it can step up. San Antonio had a two-game winning streak snapped in their last game by the Cleveland Cavaliers and will try to bounce back here. The Pelicans have lost six games in a row and are bleeding confidence at this point in time.
- With the Spurs eager to bounce back after a 13-point loss to the Cavs and the Pelicans still looking for a spark, both teams will have a sense of urgency as they try to get back on track.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- The Spurs are 2-0 against the Pelicans so far this season, winning once in New Orleans and once in San Antonio.
- The Spurs are 11-9-2 against the spread so far this season.
- New Orleans is 13-10-1 against the spread despite their dismal overall record.
- The Spurs have gone over the total in 12 of their first 22 games.
- New Orleans is 14-10 to the over on the season thus far.
Best Player Props to Watch
Player | Prop |
|---|
De’Aaron Fox (SAS) | Over 24.5 Points |
Devin Vassell (SAS) | Over 16.5 Points |
Harrison Barnes (SAS) | Under 12.5 Points |
Trey Murphy III (NOP) | Over 21.5 Points |
Spurs vs Pelicans Model Projection
Score Projection: Spurs 120 – Pelicans 108
Win Probability: Spurs 80%, Pelicans 20%
Final Thoughts
This game is a favorable spot for the Spurs. Despite injury concerns, the combination of their deeper roster, superior recent form, and New Orleans’ multitude of issues should mean that the Spurs win this contest handily. I'll lay the points with San Antonio, as they should be able to get the job done and win this game by double-digits.
Affiliate DisclosureATS.io uses affiliate links. If you sign up through a link on this page, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Rankings are based on hands-on testing and published criteria, and affiliate relationships do not determine placement.