Derrick Quinn stuns the Spurs with a historic quarter
Derrick Queen didn’t just have a breakthrough moment; he made a statement that could go down as one of the most shocking early-career outbursts of the season. In an exciting late finish, the New Orleans Pelicans beat the San Antonio Spurs 132-131, and the rookie center was the catalyst for the comeback, especially in a third quarter that immediately became historic.
The queen filmed 21 points4 rebounds and 5 assists with ZERO turnovers on PERFECT shooting in the third quarter, making him the youngest player in NBA history to score a 20+ point quarter without a turnover or turnover.
The efficiency left the crowd stunned and the Spurs defense in dire straits.
The Queen finished the night with a dominant stat line:
31 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 4 blocks and 0 turnovers on 10-of-13 shooting and 11-of-13 from the free throw line, securing a triple-double while controlling the paint on both ends.
It wasn’t just scoring; The queen influenced the game everywhere. His passing started ball movement, his physicality on the boards changed momentum, and his confidence grew with every touch.
Pelicans teammate Trey Murphy III, who added 32 points of his own, grinned after the game. “We knew he had it in him,” Murphy said. “But tonight? That was something different.”
Herbert Jones, who anchored the defensive end with 17 points, 4 steals and strong pressure on the ball, called Quinn’s performance “beyond his years, just solid basketball.”
Spurs had no answer. Harrison Barnes struggled, San Antonio pushed the game late in the final quarter, and the final possession nearly swung, but the Pelicans held on.
As New Orleans heads deeper into the season, chasing a playoff position, Quinn’s rise may be the missing piece. Not only does it fit in, it rewrites the record books.
Is that how he plays now? The league may have to prepare for a new challenge in the Western Conference.
Because tonight, Derrick Quinn didn’t just speak up; he made history doing it.
2025-12-09 03:37:00
