Saddiq Bey scored 29 points, Trey Murphy III added 27 and the New Orleans Pelicans completed a franchise-record-tying comeback to beat the visiting Houston Rockets 133-128 in overtime on Thursday.
The Pelicans trailed by 22 points at halftime and as many as 25 points early in the third quarter before chipping away at the deficit. A 36-20 fourth-quarter rally fueled the comeback, which culminated in Derik Queen knocking down a pair of clutch free throws with 9.4 seconds remaining in regulation.
The game-tying foul shots contributed to a 16-point, 12-rebound night for Queen.
New Orleans maintained the stalemate on the ensuing possession, trapping Alperen Sengun along the baseline and forcing a missed attempt as time expired.
The Pelicans carried the momentum over into the extra frame, exchanging baskets with the Rockets for the initial two minutes before a Bey step-back jumper gave New Orleans a 125-123 lead.
Bey struck again after Queen and Kevin Durant exchanged dunks, sinking a hanging jump shot with 29.7 seconds remaining that extended the Pelicans’ advantage to four points.
The cushion was enough to allow New Orleans to match the largest comeback in club history. The Pelicans also overcame a 25-deficit while beating the Utah Jazz 123-119 in overtime this year on Jan. 20.
The Pelicans secured their first three-game winning streak of the season.
New Orleans also got 18 points from Herbert Jones and 15 off the bench from Jordan Poole, including a pair of crucial free throws late in overtime after Houston cut the deficit to one point.
Durant was fouled shooting a 3-point attempt with 20.7 seconds to go in OT. He sank all three tries at the charity stripe to cap his game-high 32-point night. Durant finished the game shooting 12-for-15 from the field and 4-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Sengun overcame a slow offensive start to record 28 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, but he shot only 11 of 26 from the floor, including 0 of 4 from 3-point range.
Reed Sheppard produced 11 points and seven assists off the Houston bench, but he missed a pair of clean looks at would-be game-tying 3-point attempts late in overtime.
–Field Level Media
