Spurs vs. Pelicans: 3 Big Things to Watch

The San Antonio Spurs (19-52) look for their second consecutive win as they kick off a four-game road trip against the New Orleans Pelicans (34-37) tonight.

The San Antonio Spurs are heading to the Big Easy to face the New Orleans Pelicans  at the Smoothie King Center.

Officially eliminated from playoff contention, the Spurs look to end the season with positives to carry over into next year's training camp, as they've gone 5-5 in their last 10 games.

Meanwhile, the reeling Pelicans have fallen from being a top-four team in the NBA Western Conference to fighting for their postseason lives as the No. 12 seed at 34-37, all without All-Star Zion Williamson.

Here are three big things to keep an eye on for tonight's game...

Will Brandon Ingram Rise to the Occasion?

The Pelicans are 10-4 when Brandon Ingram scores more than 25 points. He has been in and out of the lineup, appearing in only 34 games this season, but wills the Pels to wins when he takes the floor. 

CJ McCollum has been the lone bright spot for the team throughout the fulness of the season, being available and productive on a nightly basis. He cannot do it alone though. The numbers can say whatever they want. If Ingram does not supplement McCollum with gaudy playmaking, a loss to the Spurs will go from unlikely to probable.

Can The Spurs' Three-Point Shooting Tango With Their Inside Presence?

The Spurs are No. 2 in the league with 55.9 points in the paint per game. Keldon Johnson spearheads their relentless interior attack. However, San Antonio has won 14 of their 19 games when they've scored equal to or more threes than their opponents. 

It will be easier said than done to let loose on New Orleans. They own the NBA's best defense against the three, allowing a mere 34.0 percent shooting from opponents from downtown. 

If any coach can draw up X's and O's to discombobulate a defense, its coach Gregg Popovich. Getting up quality looks over the length of Ingram, Herbert Jones and Trey Murphy III will be a tall task. San Antonio will have to stand tall if they want to pull away with the victory.

Tre Jones the Point Guard of the Future?

Efficiency runs in the family. Tre Jones ranks No. 15 in the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.77). His brother -- Memphis Grizzlies point guard Tyus Jones -- owns the second-best marker in the league (5.24). 

Jones averages 6.2 assists in 29.1 minutes per game. His per-36 minutes averages bump him up to 7.7 dimes a night. He's exceeded his season average in 24 games this year. 

While his 26.1 percent three-point clip leaves much to be desired, Jones has ample opportunity to impress coach Popovich, and it starts tonight against a Pelicans team that concedes 24.8 assists to opponents per contest.

---

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Spurs? Click Here.

Follow Inside the Spurs on Twitter.

Follow Inside the Spurs on Facebook.

Want even more San Antonio Spurs news? Check out the Si.com team page here.