The furious comeback wasn’t enough on Wednesday night for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Anthony Davis missed the last of three free throws with 2.5 seconds remaining as the Philadelphia 76ers held on for a 121-120 victory.
The Pelicans had a chance to tie after battling back from as many as 16 down in the fourth quarter. New Orleans cut the lead to one on a deep 3-pointer by Nikola Mirotic with 1:08 to play but the 76ers answered with a layup to push the lead back to three.
On the ensuing possession, Davis missed a wide open 3-pointer, but the Pelicans got the stop with under 15 seconds to set up a final play.
Jrue Holiday’s layup attempt was blocked under the rim but the ball found Davis who was able to step back behind the three-point line to throw up a shot. Davis was fouled by Joel Embiid and went to the line to shoot three.
Davis made the first two but the final shot hit the front of the rim and bounced out. The rebound was tipped out and the 76ers held on for the victory.
It was the end of a disappointing night for Davis who finished just 4-of-13 from the field. He had 12 points, 16 rebounds, six assists, five steals and five blocks.
Philadelphia built up a 16-point lead in the first quarter and never trailed but New Orleans fought back several times. In the fourth quarter, the Pelicans cut the lead to four in with a 12-0 run to make it 104-100, but that run ended with a play that epitomized New Orleans’ lapses in concentration throughout the night.
Jimmy Butler let a 3-pointer fly for the 76ers and five Pelicans players watched a long rebound hit at the free-throw line back into Butler’s hands. Butler missed a layup, but Wilson Chandler was able to put it back in for Philadelphia.
Holiday and E’Twaun Moore led the team with 30 points each. Holiday added 10 assists. Julius Randle has 22 points and 10 rebounds while Nikola Mirotic had 13 points and 13 rebounds.
The Pelicans had to comeback in the fourth quarter with Mirotic and Randle resting for most of it as both big men picked up five fouls.
Philadelphia remained undefeated at home (10-0) with the win. Embiid led the 76ers with 31 points and 19 rebounds. Former LSU star Ben Simmons had 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
10,000 for AD: Davis had a slower start than usual. He finished with six points in the first half but his last make of the half – a dunk off an alley-oop from Jrue Holiday – gave Davis 10,000 points for his career.
Davis became the eighth-youngest player in NBA history to reach the mark at 25 years, 255 days. Only LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady, Dwight Howard and Bob McAdoo reached 10,000 points at a younger age.
Records: New Orleans 10-8; Philadelphia 13-7
Up next: The Pelicans will spend Thanksgiving in New York City as the team is set to play the Knicks on Friday night. That game will be the first game of a back-to-back as New Orleans travels to the nation’s capital to take on the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.