Pelicans 104, Spurs 95: Saddiq Bey posts 45 fantasy points
Tommy Flanagan
Journeyman Electrician ยท Boston Celtics fan
Saddiq Bey Is Actually A Fantasy Beast, And The Pelicans Just Proved It
New Orleans rolled into San Antonio and cooked the Spurs 104-95, and the fantasy story here is cleaner than my apprenticeship paperwork. Saddiq Bey went absolutely nuclear for 45 Yahoo points, nearly 9 full points above his season average. This wasn't a fluke either. He paired 24 points with 10 boards and 4 assists on solid efficiency (7-15 FG, 3-9 from three, 7-9 FT). Meanwhile, the Spurs looked lost defensively, and their star big man Victor Wembanyama got absolutely mugged on the glass despite racking up 16 boards. Bey's the story tonight, but there's plenty of wreckage underneath.
Tonight's Top Performers
| Player | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | vs Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saddiq Bey (NO) | 45.0 | 24/10/4/1/0 | 15.9/5.7/2.3 | +8.1 pts, +4.3 reb |
| Victor Wembanyama (SA) | 44.2 | 16/16/0/0/4 | 24.2/11.1/2.8 | -8.2 pts, +4.9 reb |
| Zion Williamson (NO) | 44.0 | 24/10/4/0/1 | 22.0/6.0/3.4 | +2.0 pts, +4.0 reb |
| Trey Murphy III (NO) | 36.7 | 17/6/9/0/0 | 22.2/6.0/3.7 | -5.2 pts, +5.3 ast |
| Yves Missi (NO) | 37.8 | 10/14/2/1/2 | 5.7/5.8/1.2 | +4.3 pts, +8.2 reb |
The Winners
Saddiq Bey absolutely carried the Pelicans, dropping 45 Yahoo points on a 15.9 season average. That's a 28% bump. He was efficient as hell (46.7% FG, 33% from deep, 77.8% FT), hauled in 10 boards in 33 minutes, and played like he had something to prove. This is the kind of performance that makes you wonder if he's been sleeping on your waiver wire. 45 points is elite territory. The question is sustainability, but Bey's getting minutes and touches in New Orleans. Don't sleep.
Yves Missi put up 37.8 Yahoo points on a tiny 5.7 PPG average. A +8.2 rebound night suggests the Spurs couldn't match his athleticism in the paint. He grabbed 14 boards in just 30 minutes, which is insane efficiency. Missi is still raw, but when he gets run like this against a team that can't guard the rim, he's a streaming option worth hunting.
Zion Williamson delivered 44 Yahoo points, staying right in line with his season average (22.0 PPG). He went 10-18 from the field and punished the Spurs paint. Nothing flashy, nothing weird. Zion did Zion things. If you own him, you're getting exactly what you paid for.
The Letdowns
Victor Wembanyama is the real story here, but not in a good way. The All-Defensive First Team selection somehow went for just 16 points on 6-16 shooting, 8.2 below his 24.2 season average. Yeah, he grabbed 16 boards, but in a game where his team got torched, that's a hollow stat. The Spurs' defense looked soft, and Wembanyama's scoring touch was nowhere. This is one bad night, not a trend, but Pelicans' bigs bullied him around. If you drafted him early, don't panic. But monitor his scoring efficiency over the next few games.
De'Aaron Fox shot the ball 4-8 and finished with just 20.9 Yahoo points on his 20.2 PPG average. Barely above water. The All-NBA Third Team guard couldn't get anything cooking, and with Julius Randle out, the Spurs had way too much help defense for him. One bad shooting night isn't career-ending, but Fox owners need him clicking better than this.
The Trends
Trey Murphy III's 36.7 Yahoo points came with a weird profile: 17 points but 9 assists in 37 minutes. That's a +5.3 assist night compared to his 3.7 season average. He's playing a bigger offensive role than expected in New Orleans, which is a golden ticket if he keeps getting this usage. Watch his assist rate over the next week.
Stephon Castle, the 2025 Rookie of the Year, got 28 minutes but only 18.3 Yahoo points on his 16.6 PPG average. Not terrible, but a -11.6 point night says the Spurs' offense ran through Wembanyama tonight, leaving Castle with less to work with. If he's on your bench, don't overreact. One bad offensive game from a rookie happens.
Harrison Barnes got minimal run (19 minutes, 10.7 Yahoo points) but shot well (1-2 FG, 2-2 FT). The Spurs clearly aren't riding with him as a primary option right now, so he's a fade for fantasy purposes unless injuries happen.
The Moves
Add: Saddiq Bey (if still available). I get it, he's on New Orleans, so people might have already grabbed him. But if he's sitting in free agency somewhere, move fast. 45 points is a legitimate ceiling, and his floor looks way higher than we thought. Get him now before the wire gets wise.
Stream: Yves Missi against teams with weak rim protection. That 14-rebound night was a gift, but he's a lottery ticket who sometimes cashes in huge. If the Pelicans face a team without a legit paint defender next week, plug him in.
Sell High on Wembanyama... just kidding. Hold him. One clunker doesn't erase All-Defensive status. But if someone's panicking and offering you value, don't be afraid to explore it. His scoring efficiency needs monitoring.
Next Up
Pelicans stay hot, Spurs need to figure out their defense. Watch if Bey keeps getting these kinds of minutes and touches, or if tonight was a one-off. For the Spurs, Fox's shooting needs to bounce back, and Wembanyama's scoring touch has to return. Both teams play again within 48 hours. Monitor lineups hard.