The New Orleans Pelicans, down by one point with 22 seconds to go, set up on the visiting Golden State Warriors. Jrue Holiday took it inside, looking for a pull up jumper, and couldn’t find one. He dished it to Eric Gordon on the outside.
1.8 seconds left. Gordon takes the jumper, and his game-winning three-pointer rolls around the inside of the rim… and back out. And the Warriors took home a 102-101 victory.
Solid defense and an uncharacteristically strong 28-19 third quarter helped the New Orleans Pelicans claw back from a 15-point deficit to make Tuesday night’s contest a real game through four quarters. They just couldn’t overcome a cold first half and 16 turnovers, or the 15-for-21 made free throws they gave up to the visitors.
“You can’t get a more open look that that at the end of a game,” said Head Coach Monty Williams during his postgame press conference. “Eric made the shot the other day; tonight he missed it. It’s a cruel game.”
Ryan Anderson finished the game with a double-double, draining 8 of his 17 shots for 21 points, and collecting 12 boards. Anthony Davis, who rode the bench for much of the second and third quarters with his four fouls, also ended the night with a double-double, putting up 14 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, 8 of them defensive.
Both teams came into the game in the top ten in the league in three-point shooting, and both gave up 19 three-point attempts — New Orleans was 9-of-19 from outside, and Golden State 7-of-19. They also both started cold: New Orleans shot 1-of-7 to start; the Warriors 1-of-6.
The Pelicans (6-8) will face the Philadelphia 76ers next at the Wells Fargo Center. The game starts at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29.
Game Notes:
Ryan Anderson came off the bench to score 21 points, and was 3-of-6 from outside. He’s now made 3+ three-pointers in four of his five appearances this season since returning from a toe injury.
The Warriors’ Jermaine O’Neal scored 12 points in the first half on 6-of-6 shooting. This was his first game back from a knee injury. He finished the night with 18 points and 8 rebounds.
Golden State turned 16 Pelicans turnovers into 21 points.
