Pelicans 121, Celtics 120
Pelicans 121, Celtics 120 (OT): Anthony Davis recorded career highs of 40 points and 21 rebounds as New Orleans held off visiting Boston.
Davis, who set his previous high of 36 points on Friday, went 14-of-22 from the field and Tyreke Evans scored 26 points for the Pelicans. Eric Gordon contributed 19 points and eight assists and Brian Roberts scored 11 as New Orleans improved to 16-16 at home.
Jeff Green nearly matched Davis with 39 points for the Celtics, who remain winless on the road against Western Conference opponents. Kris Humphries collected 16 points and 12 rebounds, Jared Sullinger added 14 points and nine boards and Rajon Rondo handed out 14 assists for Boston.
The Pelicans began the fourth quarter with an 18-5 run to push the lead to 102-89 with 5:35 remaining. The Celtics fought back within 108-107 on Green’s reverse layup with 38 seconds left but New Orleans looked like it would close it out before Al-Farouq Aminu fouled Green on a desperation 3-point attempt with 4.9 seconds left and the Boston forward hit all three free throws.
Davis knocked down a jumper from the top of the key to put the Pelicans back on top with 1.4 seconds on the clock but Humphries hit a turnaround jumper from the right corner as time expired to force overtime. Evans scored four straight points to give the Pelicans a 119-114 lead in the extra session and the Celtics could not keep the game going with a foul after Green’s three-point play cut the deficit to one in the final seconds.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Davis’ career high marked the first 40-point game for the New Orleans franchise since David West reached the mark in 2009. … The Celtics took a 64-57 lead into the break but Davis’ basket just in front of the buzzer knotted it at 84 heading into the fourth. … New Orleans improved to 4-0 in overtime games.