Pelicans 116, Bucks 99
NEW ORLEANS -- Forward Ryan Anderson led a blistering perimeter attack by making a season-high six 3-pointers for 23 points and forward Anthony Davis added 22 points to lift the surging New Orleans Pelicans to a 116-99 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night at the Smoothie King Center.
In winning for the fifth time in six games, the Pelicans (16-27) placed seven players in double figures. They also won their season-best fourth consecutive home game, with four games left in a seven-game homestand.
Anderson finished 6 of 11 from long range and the Pelicans made a franchise-record 17 3-pointers on 31 attempts.
The Bucks (19-27) were paced by guard Khris Middleton, who scored 14 of his 22 points in the third quarter, and center Greg Monroe, who had 22 points and 11 rebounds.
The Pelicans trailed 68-66 late in the third quarter but finished on an 18-6 run to take an 84-74 lead into the fourth quarter. New Orleans iced the game with a 16-9 surge to open the fourth quarter to build a 100-83 lead.
Monroe, a New Orleans native, scored 12 of his 16 first-half points in the second quarter, but the Bucks lost a 41-34 lead when the Pelicans closed the first half on an 18-10 run to take a 52-51 halftime advantage.
Despite shooting just 40 percent from the field in the first two quarters, New Orleans forced 11 Milwaukee turnovers and scored 19 points to make up for its shooting woes.
Davis, who had 67 points in his previous two games, missed four of his first five shots from the field and the Bucks double-teamed him as soon as he touched the ball in the low post.
Anderson slammed home a buzzer-beating dunk to give New Orleans a 52-51 halftime lead, and he finished the half with 12 points.
The Bucks outrebounded the Pelicans 26-20 in the first half but could not withstand New Orleans' perimeter shooting and season-high 33 assists on 43 made field goals.
NOTES: Interim Bucks coach Joe Prunty said he relished his experience filling in for Jason Kidd for one month while Milwaukee's head coach rehabbed from hip surgery. Kidd is expected back on the sidelines Tuesday when the Bucks play Orlando. "For me individually, it's a great experience," Prunty said. "One thing we always talk about is trust, and what Coach Kidd did to put the trust in all of us as staff is very important. We've been moving in the right direction." ... The Pelicans entered the game having won four of five and need to remain focused, said coach Alvin Gentry. "We're on a (seven-game) homestand where we're trying to make up ground," Gentry said. "Everybody would like to win three in a row, five in a row, 10 in a row, but for us, it's just the next game on the schedule." ... The Pelicans were 11-11 with Jrue Holiday coming off the bench at point guard, and 4-14 with him as a starter.