Pelicans Overcome Odds, Defeat Raptors

Coming off an abysmal loss to Philadelphia Friday night, the New Orleans Pelicans (20-20) played a superb game Sunday in Toronto, defeating the talented Raptors without Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday.

With the game tied at 93, Pelicans guard Tyreke Evans drove to the lane and lobbed a slingshot layup over three Raptor defenders, giving New Orleans a 95-93 lead with 1.6 seconds to go.

Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan attempted a well contested three pointer as time expired, and the Pelicans continued their topsy turvy season.

"We had to stick with it and not bow our heads when we took a  shot," said Evans, who scored a game-high 26 points. "We just kept playing through it."

New Orleans jumped out to a 14 point lead at halftime, getting a career performance from backup center Alexis Ajinca (pictured left).

Ajinca finished with a career-high 22 points, going 10 of 13 from the field.

"Alexis played great tonight," said Evans of his teammate. "Hell of a game from him. Being in the middle, finishing, making himself big."

Without their two stars (Davis and Holiday), the Pelicans watched the Raptors chip away at their first half lead, taking control of the game in the second half, and increase their lead to 85-73 with 6:39 left.

New Orleans didn't back down, as Eric Gordon's three point play led to a 9-0 run by the Pels.

The Pelicans complete their 5 game East Coast road trip tomorrow in New York against the lowly Knicks. New York owns the worst record in the NBA at 5-36.

New Orleans is 2-2 on their road trip, with wins against the hot Detroit Pistons and talented Raptors, but losses to the 15-28 Boston Celtics, and the 8-32 Philadelphia 76ers.

Tip-off tomorrow from Madison Square Garden is set for 4:30.