On Monday night, Derik Queen didn’t just have a breakout moment; he delivered a statement performance that may go down as one of the most shocking early-career explosions of the season. In a thrilling late finish, the New Orleans Pelicans lost to the San Antonio Spurs 135-132, but the rookie center was the engine behind their comeback attempt, especially in a third quarter that instantly became historic.

Queen recorded 21 points, four rebounds, and five assists with zero turnovers on perfect shooting in the third quarter, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to post a quarter with 20+ points without a miss or turnover.

The efficiency left the crowd stunned, and the Spurs' defense scrambling.

Queen finished the night with a dominant stat line: 31 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, four blocks, and zero 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; Queen impacted the game everywhere. His passing triggered ball movement, his physicality on the boards shifted momentum, and his confidence grew with every touch.

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Pelicans teammate Trey Murphy III, who added 32 points of his own, was grinning postgame.

“We knew he had that in him,” Murphy said. “But tonight? That was something different.”

Herbert Jones, anchoring the defensive side with 17 points, four steals, and strong on-ball pressure, called Queen’s performance “beyond his age, just poised basketball.”

While the Pelicans only have three wins, the emergence of Queen gives fans something to enjoy now and look forward to in the future as he continues to make history.