Brandon Ingram hit a 17-foot jumper with just 5.2 seconds left, and Herbert Jones blocked Anfernee Simons’ drive right before the buzzer, leading the New Orleans Pelicans to a 105-103 comeback win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.
Jordan Hawkins came off the bench to score 15 of his team-high 24 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Pelicans recover from a 16-point deficit in the second quarter and earn their second consecutive victory.
Ingram contributed 21 points and eight rebounds, CJ McCollum added 20 points, and Zion Williamson recorded 16 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, and four blocked shots for New Orleans. Williamson missed the season opener against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday due to illness.
Jerami Grant led the Blazers with 34 points but only scored two in the fourth quarter when Portland was outscored 30-19. Simons added 24 points and seven assists, Scoot Henderson scored 15 points off the bench, and Deandre Ayton had 10 points and 15 rebounds.
The Pelicans played without Dejounte Murray, who fractured his left hand in the opener, and are also missing Trey Murphy III (hamstring). The Trail Blazers were without Shaedon Sharpe (shoulder), Robert Williams III (hamstring), and Matisse Thybulle (knee).
The two teams will face each other again in Portland on Sunday afternoon.
New Orleans shot 41.9 percent from the field, including 12 of 32 from beyond the arc, while winning against the Trail Blazers for the seventh time in a row.
Portland made 41.1 percent of its shots and hit 13 of 37 from three-point range. Simons had a personal 7-0 scoring streak that gave Portland a 65-51 lead with 7:23 left in the third quarter.
New Orleans responded with a 14-3 run, closing the gap to three points thanks to a 3-pointer from Hawkins.
Soon after, the Trail Blazers scored 14 points in a row to pull ahead 84-71 with 44.3 seconds left in the quarter.
The Pelicans were down 84-75 as they entered the final quarter.
New Orleans then scored 13 points in a row to take a 97-91 lead with 5:52 remaining in the game. Hawkins hit two free throws with 7:58 left to put New Orleans ahead, followed by baskets from McCollum and Daniel Theis to finish the run.
Ayton scored inside with 5:15 left, ending Portland’s scoring drought. Simons made two free throws, and Toumani Camara added a tip-in, allowing the Trail Blazers to tie the game at 97 with 3:51 left. Grant scored 18 points in the first half, helping Portland lead 47-37 at halftime.
