INDIANAPOLIS — Jrue Holiday scored 14 of his 31 points in the final 2:26, including a go-ahead 3-pointer, and the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans beat the Indiana Pacers 124-117 on Saturday night.
Despite not having top two scorers Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, the Pelicans (22-31) led for much of the game before needing to rally late to hand the Pacers (31-22) their fifth consecutive loss.
Holiday’s 3-pointer with 2:26 remaining broke a 108-all tie. He hit a fadeaway jumper to make it 113-110 and another 3-pointer for a 118-110 lead with 45 seconds to play.
Reserve JJ Redick added 23 points for the Pelicans.
Ingram (right ankle sprain) and Williamson (left ankle sprain) average a combined 44.7 points, but the Pelicans led by as many as 12 in the second quarter as Redick scored 19 points before halftime. A late Pacers surge trimmed the deficit to 60-55 at the break.
Jeremy Lamb led the Pacers with 26 points. T.J. Warren scored 22.
KNIGHT, KEADY HONORED
Longtime college basketball coaches Bob Knight of Indiana and Gene Keady of Purdue were presented with commemorative jerseys at halftime. Earlier in the day, both attended the Boilermakers-Hoosiers game in Bloomington, where Knight returned to Assembly Hall for the first time in two decades. They faced each other 41 times, with the three-time national champion Knight ranking first and Keady second on the Big Ten career wins list.
BROTHERLY ENCORE
The last time these teams met in December made league history with three brothers, the Pelicans’ Jrue Holiday and the Pacers’ Aaron and Justin Holiday, sharing the same court. Reunited again this night, Justin scored seven points and Aaron two.
TIP-INS
Pelicans: Are 4-4 in games with Williamson in the lineup since his pro debut on Jan. 22. … Redick scored 13 points in the second quarter.
Pacers: Two-time All-Star guard Victor Oladipo, who has been playing as a reserve with minutes closely monitored in five games since his season debut on Jan. 29, was given the night off to rest as part of his recovery from a season-ending quad injury last spring. … Lamb scored 12 first-quarter points.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: Host Portland on Tuesday.
Pacers: Host Brooklyn on Monday.
