Lonzo Ball scores 33 as Pelicans hold off Warriors
FILE — Zion Williamson #1 and Lonzo Ball #2 of the New Orleans Pelicans celebrate after a play during over time against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on May 1, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Harrison Barden/Getty Images/AFP
Lonzo Ball scored 33 points and Zion Williamson had a double-double as the host New Orleans Pelicans held off the Golden State Warriors 108-103 on Tuesday night.
Just one night after shooting 3 of 18 (1 of 9 on 3-point attempts) in a loss to the Warriors, Ball made 11 of 23 shots, including 7 of 13 from beyond the 3-point arc. Williamson tallied 23 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists as New Orleans (30-36) closed with a 13-5 run.
Eric Bledsoe added 14 points for the Pelicans, and Brandon Ingram scored 13 before being sidelined by a sprained ankle in the fourth quarter. Naji Marshall scored 10 off the bench.
🔥 Career high tying 33 PTS for @ZO2_
🔥 Game-winning jumper in final minute#WontBowDown pic.twitter.com/8MpVhGxLmz— NBA (@NBA) May 5, 2021
One night after scoring 41 points, Stephen Curry tallied 37 to lead the Warriors (33-33). However, he recorded just two points in the fourth quarter. Curry also grabbed nine rebounds. Andrew Wiggins added 26 points and hit 5 of 10 3-point attempts.
New Orleans scored the first four points of the fourth quarter to tie the score, but Wiggins answered with back-to-back 3-pointers.
Marshall made two free throws for the Pelicans before Wiggins hit a jumper and assisted on Juan Toscano-Anderson’s 3-pointer, which gave the Warriors a 90-81 lead.
Bledsoe had two assists and made a 3-pointer as New Orleans pulled even at 92.
Williamson assisted on four consecutive Pelicans baskets, the last of which was Bledsoe’s jumper that gave New Orleans a 100-98 lead with 1:30 left.
Draymond Green’s basket tied the score before Ball’s jumper put the Pelicans back on top with 26.2 seconds left.
Curry missed a 3-point attempt and Mychal Mulder grabbed the offensive rebound, but Williamson made a steal and Green committed a clear-path foul.
Williamson and Ball each made two free throws for a six-point lead with 14.6 seconds left.
Curry’s 3-pointer started a 10-2 run that gave Golden State a 72-63 lead midway through the third quarter. Ingram and Ball each made a 3-pointer to pull New Orleans within 74-71.
The Pelicans got within two points but didn’t score in the final 2:45 as the Warriors took a 79-75 lead at the end of the third quarter.
