BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WVUE) – The New Orleans Pelicans fought back from a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit Tuesday (Oct. 14), but fell to the Houston Rockets in a preseason game in Alabama, 130-128.
Two free throws by the Pelicans’ Bryce McGowens tied the game at 128-128 with 21.9 seconds left.
But Houston guard Aaron Holiday took over on the Rockets’ next possession and hit a 12-foot floater in the lane to provide the final margin with 1.8 seconds on the clock.
New Orleans called timeout to inbound the ball within the offensive half, but rookie Jeremiah Fears missed a 33-foot turnaround jumper off the back of the rim as the final buzzer sounded.
Fears led the Pelicans with 20 points in 22 minutes, but was 2 for 6 from 3-point range.
The Pelicans had eight players score in double figures.
Saddiq Bey followed Fears with 16 points, Zion Williamson and Jordan Hawkins scored 13 each, Trey Murphy III tallied 11, and Herb Jones, Yves Missi and Jordan Poole added 10 apiece.
Jabari Smith led Houston with 26 points, Amen Thompson had 21 and Tari Eason scored 20. Kevin Durant added 15 points in his 28 minutes.
The Pelicans’ last preseason game is Thursday night at Orlando. They open the regular season at Memphis on Oct. 22.
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