In a thrilling matchup on Saturday night, rookie center Queen showcased his extraordinary skills, leading the New Orleans Pelicans to a narrow 102-100 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Queen really heated up in the third quarter, scoring 21 points along with five assists and zero turnovers. That exceptional performance makes him just the fourth player in the play-by-play era to accomplish that incredible feat. He showed incredible precision by going a perfect 6-for-6 from the field. He converted all nine of his free throws in this essential stretch.
Queen truly slayed the court and shattered glass ceilings! He became the first rookie center in NBA history to record a triple-double with at least 30 points. He would end the contest with a game-high 33 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and four blocks. His dominating performance pumped more life into his status as the best player to ever step foot on a blacktop. He joins elite company with Chris Paul and Darren Collison as the only rookies in New Orleans franchise history to log a triple-double.
The Pelicans surged in the third quarter, outscoring the Spurs 45-23, which set the stage for a competitive final frame. Queen’s final two free throws provided New Orleans with an important lead going into the final frame. The excitement did not end there. With just 3.1 seconds remaining in the game, Queen attempted a shot to win the game. Unfortunately, the shot bounced off the front of the rim.
During the post-game interview, Mitch Johnson, the Spurs’ coach, expressed his disappointment about his team’s performance in the second half.
“I’m pretty disappointed in the way we came out in the second half,” – Mitch Johnson
Johnson went on to praise the Pelicans’ resilience and give them respect for how well they played.
“Give them credit. JB’s got them playing hard. They didn’t quit. They made some shots and flipped the game, and then you’re in a dogfight.” – Mitch Johnson
The 2025 rookie class has been shaking things up all over the league, and Queen’s performance was just another big part of that story. As fellow rookie Harper pointed out, one constant of this player class has been its organic development over the season.
“I think all of us [in the 2025 draft class] played up growing up,” – Harper
Along with his efficient scoring, Queen’s creativity to generate shots for his teammates was on display all game long. Jose Alvarado found Queen standing alone at the top of the key for a chance to clinch the game, showcasing Queen’s shooting ability even under pressure.
Queen’s overall shooting percentage for the game was 73.3%, showcasing his scoring efficiency and capability. With this win, Queen has laid down a bold marker. As his historic performance proves, he’ll be one to keep an eye on as the NCAA tournament gets underway.
“He’s just fearless, touching the paint whenever, finding a shot at will.” – Stephon Castle
Queen’s overall shooting percentage for the game stood at an impressive 73.3%, demonstrating his efficiency and scoring capability. With this victory and his historical performance, Queen has firmly established himself as a player to watch in future games.
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