Anthony Davis had his second consecutive 40-plus point game as the host New Orleans Pelicans cooled off the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-114 on Wednesday night.
Davis, who had 41 points in a loss at Boston on Monday, scored a season-high with 44 points and added 18 rebounds as the Pelicans alternated wins and losses for the ninth consecutive game. Julius Randle added 22 points and 12 rebounds, Jrue Holiday had 20 points and 10 assists and Darius Miller came off the bench to score 10 points.
Paul George had 25 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Thunder, who had won five of their previous six games, Dennis Schroder came off the bench to score 24 points, and Russell Westbrook and Steven Adams had 20 points each.
The Pelicans played without forward E’Twaun Moore, who missed his second consecutive game because of a calf strain, and forward Nikola Mirotic, who missed the second half of a loss at Boston on Monday after aggravating an ankle injury.
New Orleans led 57-56 at halftime, and early in the third quarter the lead changed hands four times and the score was tied three times.
Davis scored three points during a 7-0 run that gave the Pelicans a 74-67 lead.
Westbrook scored seven points as the Thunder got within 89-84 after the third quarter.
New Orleans increased the lead to 98-89 on a bank shot by Holiday.
Oklahoma City got back-to-back 3-pointers from Terrance Ferguson and Westbrook, but New Orleans answered with a three-point play by Miller and a dunk by Randle.
The Thunder got within 100-95 on George’s 3-pointer, but Solomon Hill answered with a basket for New Orleans.
Oklahoma City got within five twice, but Davis answered with a basket both times.
Two turnovers by Holiday led to a layup by Westbrook and a three-point play by George that got the Thunder within 116-114 with 48 seconds left.
After Davis missed, Oklahoma City had a chance to tie or go ahead, but Westbrook missed a 3-pointer and Randle rebounded and was fouled. He missed both free throws with 10 seconds left.
Alex Abrines missed a 3-pointer, then Hill made two free throws with 0.4 seconds left.
—Field Level Media
