Pelicans take late lead, hold on for win against Wizards
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Tyreke Evans scored 27 points and the New Orleans Pelicans rallied to beat the Wizards 107-105 on Friday night to end a seven-game losing streak against Washington.
The Wizards led 97-90 in the fourth quarter, but Evans tied it at 98 with a 3 with 4:13 left. Anthony Davis tied it again at 103 with a 3 with 2:34 left.
Davis made a free throw with 1:47 remaining for New Orleans' first lead of the quarter. Eric Gordon hit two free throws with 18 seconds left and Evans made 1 of 2 with 4.7 seconds remaining. The Wizards' Gary Neal missed a 19-foot jumper at the buzzer.
The Pelicans hadn't beaten Washington since Feb. 1, 2011. This was their last game in New Orleans before beginning a five-game trip Saturday in Chicago. This was the first of a four-game trip for Washington.
John Wall led Washington with 26 points.
Evans made his free throw after Jrue Holiday outleaped Wizards forward Jared Dudley in a jump-ball situation with 6.4 seconds left. Holiday had turned the ball over moments earlier while leading 106-105.
The teams went into the fourth tied at 77 after a third quarter in which there were seven lead changes in the first 5:32. The Pelicans led 77-73 after a 3-pointer by Holiday, but Marcin Gortat made a jumper and Ramon Session drove for a basket with 8.5 seconds left.
New Orleans led 44-33 at 8:01 of the second quarter but that advantage fell to 55-54 by the half. Wall scored all nine of his second-quarter points in the last 6:11, and former LSU guard Garrett Temple had all eight of his points in the quarter during that span, also.
Temple sank a 3-pointer that gave Washington a 53-51 lead with 59.6 seconds left. However, Davis and Alexis Ajinca made baseline jumpers on consecutive trips to lead 55-53.
Holiday's 45-footer at the buzzer of the first quarter put the Pelicans up 29-27. The first quarter featured seven lead changes, including six in the final 2:04.
TIP-INS: The Wizards shot 56.8 percent. However, the Pelicans outrebounded small-ball Washington 23-11, including 7-1 on offensive rebounds. ... The Pelicans begin a nine-day, five-game trip that is their longest of the season. ... As a starter this season, Holiday averaged 11.1 points, 4.5 assists, 0.6 steals and 2.5 turnovers. As a reserve, he is averaging 13.5 points, 5.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 turnovers.
ON THE ROAD
Washington came into the game with a 5-4 road record, all against Eastern Conference teams.
This game began a four-game trip against Western teams, including a game Saturday at Dallas.
"We are a confident road team and have played well on the road this season," coach Randy Wittman said.
BIG PERK RETURNS
Pelicans center Kendrick Perkins returned to play after being out since Oct. 31 with a pectoral injury. Perkins said he'd been eager to play for a while.
"It's good to have a jersey on (for a game)," he said. "I was running out of suits. ... About two weeks ago, really, is when I started jumping in and out of practice and getting physical contact, and I was like `I feel I can play right now.' I feel I'm ready, I don't feel any discomfort, so I want to just see how it is."
Small forward Quincy Pondexter, who had offseason knee surgery, is the only Pelican out injured.
ONE IN, ONE OUT
Pelicans sixth man Ryan Anderson was sidelined with flu-like symptoms. Coach Alvin Gentry said it was more of a precautionary measure.
UP NEXT:
Pelicans at Chicago Bulls on Saturday night.
Wizards at Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night.
