The New Orleans Pelicans tip off their 2025-26 home schedule Friday night with a marquee matchup.

The San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama come to town, fresh off the French big man’s spectacular 40-point, 15-rebound masterpiece against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.

It’ll be the first game of any kind at the Smoothie King Center for this new iteration of the Pelicans.

“I definitely look forward to playing at the crib,” forward Zion Williamson said Wednesday night after the Pels’ 128-122 loss to the Grizzlies in Memphis, Tennessee. “I hope the city comes out (and) brings the energy, because we’re looking to put on a show and have fun.”

One could argue the Pelicans need to put on a show. After slogging through a demoralizing, injury-plagued 21-61 campaign a year ago, the

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