Hornets (35-28), Pelicans (24-39)
CHARLOTTE – Despite a pair of outstanding individual performances from New Orleans players, the Pelicans weren’t able to completely overcome the early hole they dug Wednesday, falling to Charlotte to open a cross-country five-game road trip. The Hornets led by as many as 17 points – the same deficit the Pelicans rallied from two days ago to beat Sacramento – and appeared on their way to a comfortable victory by scoring at will in the first half. However, New Orleans rode the potent duo of Anthony Davis (40 points) and Jrue Holiday (career-best 38 points) back into position to have a chance to win, down 99-91 entering the fourth quarter. The Pelicans got within one possession of the lead in the final period but never took it, as the Hornets posted a wire-to-wire home triumph.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Charlotte’s Courtney Lee grabbed a long defensive rebound off a missed shot with 48 seconds remaining, leading to Kemba Walker nailing a game-sealing three-pointer at 0:26. Walker’s trey gave the Hornets a 120-111 advantage. That trifecta was the 15th of the night for the home team in 35 attempts. Charlotte entered Wednesday averaging about 10 threes per game, then nailed eight in the first quarter alone.
PELICANS PLAYER OF THE GAME
Give Davis and Holiday co-honors after they combined for 78 points on 27/49 shooting from the field. Davis had 22 points in the first half to carry New Orleans; Holiday took over in the second with 24 points. The Pelicans only received 13 field goals from the rest of a short-handed lineup, using only nine players. Davis notched the seventh 40-point game of his career and top offensive output since he rang up 59 at Detroit last month. Holiday edged his previous career high of 35 points.
PELICANS UNSUNG CONTRIBUTOR
Toney Douglas provided his usual blend of scrappy play and perimeter shooting, this time going 3/7 from three-point range and 6/14 from the field to account for his 16 points. Douglas logged 37 minutes, with Norris Cole a late scratch in the starting backcourt and Orlando Johnson filling in at shooting guard on Day 1 of Johnson’s 10-day contract.
