Down by 16 on the road isn't ideal for the young New Orleans Pelicans, but Friday night, they completed a furious rally, slipping by the Pistons 103-101.

Eric Gordon nailed a floating layup over two defenders, scoring the go-ahead basket with 1.9 seconds left.

"It was for me to get it up top, one on one," said Gordon. "It was good for us to get a win in an ugly game."

Speaking of ugly, the third quarter has been just that for the Pelicans. Before Gordon's game-winner, the contest was playing out like so many of the January losses endured by New Orleans. The Pelicans had a solid first half, leading 54-48 after two quarter. Then the dreaded third quarter hit, and the Pelicans promptly blew a 10 point lead, being outscored 32-17. In the 4th quarter, the deficit climbed to 16, but the Pelicans were able to climb out of the hole.

"Obviously, our third quarter is one of the worst third quarters we have had," Pelicans coach Monty Williams explained. "The NBA is a game where there is only so long that you can come back and the 3-point ball kind of allows you to do that."

Anthony Morrow returned from a two-game absence due to illness, lighting up Detroit from 3-point range.

"Being sick and kind of being out of the rotation, I just had to fight through it," Morrow said. "Got to be a professional."

The professional 3-point shooter scored 21 off the pine, including 4-5 from beyond the arc. Austin Rivers was solid off the bench as well, scoring 15 and only turning it over twice.

As for the starters, Anthony Davis didn't have his best stat line, but 14 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks, 2 assists, and 2 steals wasn't a bad day at the office either.

Gordon finished with 14, while Brian Roberts added 13, and Al-Farouq Aminu 10.

Without the services of Jrue Holiday (shin), Ryan Anderson (neck), Jason Smith (back), and Tyreke Evans (illness), the Pelicans had their hands full, but still managed to get a gutty road win.

The Pelicans return home for a Sunday night matchup with the Orlando Magic. Tip-off from the New Orleans Arena is set for 7:00.

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