In a must-win game at home against the Spurs on Saturday, missed free throws, turnovers and an inability to get stops late led to San Antonio escaping with a 110-108 win over the Pelicans.
New Orleans finished the night 17-for-32 from the free throw line along with 19 turnovers that 23 Spurs points. Still, back-to-back baskets from Lonzo Ball in the fourth quarter put the hosts up 99-94.
A healthy dose of DeMar DeRozan mid-range jumpers and trips to the free throw line pulled San Antonio back ahead and New Orleans could not take back the lead as the Pelicans dropped to 4.5 games out of the play-in race.
Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson combined for 81 points on the night, the most ever by those three in a game over the last two seasons. However, the rest of the Pelicans finished with just 27 points on 10-of-27 shooting.
