DeMar DeRozan scored 33 points, and the Toronto Raptors beat the New Orleans Pelicans 122-118.
DeRozan’s 13-foot pull-up jumper put the Raptors ahead for good with 2:37 left in the fourth quarter.
The Pelicans got within 120-118 on Darius Miller’s 2 free throws with 16 seconds to play, but DeRozan answered with 2 free throws, and the Pelicans got no closer.
DeRozan’s 16-foot pull-up jumper with 33.1 seconds left made it 118-114, and his 2 free throws with 15.4 seconds left put it away at 122-118.
During clutch time, the Raptors outscored the Pelicans 16-13. DeRozan (No. 2 in clutch wins added, 2017-18) scored 10 of the Raptors’ 16 on 3 for 5 shooting and 4 for 6 at the line. Late in the fourth quarter, Jrue Holiday had 4 of his 11 assists, 1 of them on a basket by Anthony Davis that tied the game and 1 on a basket by Davis that put the Pelicans ahead.
DeRozan and Kyle Lowry set each other up for 7 baskets and 18 points, 4 of them 3-pointers.
For the Pelicans, Holiday had 34 points and 11 assists on 14 for 20 shooting, and DeMarcus Cousins added 20 points (12 in the paint) and 15 rebounds but shot 8 for 24.
The Raptors grabbed 10 offensive rebounds to the Pelicans’ 4. The Pelicans forced 12 turnovers, about 5 fewer than usual for this many possessions. Dante Cunningham fouled out.