MILWAUKEE _ Jabari Parker tried to lift the Milwaukee Bucks to a comeback victory, but their rally fell short in a 112-106 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
New Orleans (1-8) ended its winless skid to open the season behind Anthony Davis' 32 points and E'Twaun Moore's 20 points. Point guard Tim Frazier contributed 15 points and 10 assists.
Parker scored a season-high 33 points on 13-of-26 shooting and added nine rebounds but the Bucks (4-4) could not recover after trailing by as many as 15 points in the second half. Giannis Antetokounmpo added 17 points and 10 rebounds.
The Pelicans ended the first half on a 9-2 run to take a 61-54 halftime lead, and they scored the first five points of the second half to extend the lead to 12 points.
Moore scored 12 straight New Orleans points to help them take a 75-60 lead, but the Bucks countered to cut the deficit to nine points.
Rashad Vaughn's two-pointer from the corner cut the Bucks' deficit to 88-81 after three quarters.
Early in the final quarter, the Bucks pulled within 90-87 when Malcolm Brogdon dropped a nifty bounce pass to Greg Monroe.
Pelicans center Omer Asik scored five straight points and Moore hit a jumper as the Pelicans immediately spurted to a 97-87 lead.
But the Bucks battled back as Parker hit a 3-pointer and added two free throws as Milwaukee got within 102-96.
A three-point play by Antetokounmpo pulled the Bucks within 108-105 with 40.4 seconds left.
But a missed free throw by Matthew Dellavedova left the Bucks trailing by two and they fouled Davis, who sank two foul shots for a 110-106 New Orleans lead with 12.1 seconds left.
