Davis, Pelicans edge Hornets in OT for 2nd straight win

By BRADLEY HANDWERGER

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Anthony Davis spent much of the final seven minutes of New Orleans' game against Charlotte around the rim, cleaning up missed layups and jumpers from teammates.

He was only doing what he was told to do.

Davis had 38 points and 16 rebounds, Jrue Holiday added 22 points and nine assists, and the Pelicans beat the Hornets 121-116 in overtime Saturday night for their second straight win.

"Those guys usually make those shots but you never know," Davis said afterwards. "Jrue even told me, `If I'm going to the basket, just follow behind me.'"

New Orleans (4-10), which hadn't won back-to-back games all season, overcame a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit and found unlikely bench scoring from guard Langston Galloway to keep Charlotte (8-4) from tying its best franchise start through 12 games.

Galloway finished with 23 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter. Tim Frazier added 17 points and eight assists for New Orleans.

"He was really good and he's capable of doing that," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said of Galloway, who has had at least 15 points in three of New Orleans' past four games.

Kemba Walker led the Hornets with 25 points, while Marco Belinelli added 22 points and 10 rebounds. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist added 10 points and 12 rebounds for Charlotte.

Davis, though, was the biggest difference down the stretch. He had his ninth 30-point game of the season and scored 11 of the Pelicans' final 16 points.

He tied the game with 18 seconds to play in regulation with a follow shot, and his tip-in of Holiday's miss in overtime gave the Pelicans the lead for good.

"When AD is in the game and you're attacking the basket, just know that he's around the rim somewhere and getting a hand on it," Holiday said.

Not that Charlotte made it easy. Nicolas Batum hit three free throws after Galloway fouled him beyond the arc with 42 seconds to play, cutting New Orleans' lead to 116-115.

Out of a timeout, though, Davis again came through, delicately rolling in a right-handed floater for a 118-115 lead. Holiday and Frazier then both sank free throws to safely keep the Pelicans ahead.

"They just made the right plays," Walker said. "As a team we just made so many mistakes and they capitalized on every mistake we made."

TIP-INS

Hornets: Starting center Cody Zeller sat out Saturday night's game with a sore shoulder. ... Charlotte held New Orleans to 21 first-quarter points, a season low for a Hornets opponent.

Pelicans: New Orleans trailed by 11 points heading into the fourth quarter and has led after three quarters only four times this season. ... The Pelicans have won four of their past six games after starting 0-8.

GALLOWAY'S GREAT NIGHT

Galloway's previous season high of 21 points came Monday. He also tied his career high with six made 3-pointers. Galloway was one of the last free agents signed by New Orleans this offseason.

BIG THIRD FOR CHARLOTTE

The Hornets seemingly took control of the game in the second half, tying a season-best for third quarter points with 39. Charlotte was 12 of 23 in the quarter and hit 7 of 10 3-pointers. Heading into the fourth, the Hornets led 85-74.

DIMINISHING MINUTES FOR HIELD

Buddy Hield went to New Orleans with the sixth overall pick in April's draft. But after averaging just 9.2 points and 20 minutes per game to open the season, he has played only 13 minutes in the past two games combined. He shot 1 for 4 Saturday.

UP NEXT

Hornets: Host Memphis on Monday, the first game in an eight-game, 12-day stretch that includes six games in Charlotte.

Pelicans: Visit Atlanta on Tuesday, the first of two games between the franchises this season.