Brandon Ingram had 24 points (15 in the third quarter) and 11 assists, and the New Orleans Pelicans went on a 27-10 run in the third quarter to beat the Toronto Raptors 113-99 in the season opener for both teams at Amalie Arena.
The Raptors led 67-56 with 8:59 left in the third quarter. Ingram’s 3-pointer put the Pelicans ahead for good with 3:53 left in the quarter. He and Lonzo Ball scored 8 points each during the run, and they led 83-77 with 1:03 left in the quarter and by as many as 16 in the fourth quarter.
JJ Redick scored 23 points (13 in the fourth quarter) with 6 3-pointers off the bench. Eric Bledsoe added 18 points and 6 assists, and Steven Adams had 8 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals. Redick scored 13 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter.
For the Raptors, Pascal Siakam had 20 points and 6 assists. Aron Baynes had 11 points and 9 rebounds.
The Pelicans shot 52.5% from the field and 45.2% from 3 to the Raptors’ 42.7% and 30.4%.