SACRAMENTO – A four-point lead in the final 5 seconds somehow vanished, but JJ Redick had the answer.

New Orleans led 115-111 after Jrue Holiday sank two free throws, but the Pelicans inexplicably fouled Nemanja Bjelica, who banked in a three-pointer and hit the foul shot for a tie game with 4 ticks to go. However, after calling timeout, New Orleans got the ball to Redick cutting open in the middle of the floor; he spun and dribbled into the lane, banking in a shot with 1 second remaining for the go-ahead hoop.

With its leading scorer having a rough night and the offense overall sputtering, New Orleans won the kind of game that likely would’ve been near impossible for it to secure early in 2019-20. Despite Brandon Ingram struggling and eventually fouling out on the Bjelica four-point conversion – along with the Pelicans shooting 41 percent from the field through three quarters – they ended up with a 1-1 split on a California road trip. New Orleans trailed 80-76 through three quarters, but pulled into a double-digit lead, before Sacramento made a furious rally.

IT WAS OVER WHEN…

After Redick’s basket, Sacramento inbounded to De’Aaron Fox, but Fox didn’t have enough time to turn toward the hoop 75 feet away in the other direction and shoot. By the time the point guard released a heave, the buzzer had already sounded and Pelicans players ran onto the court to celebrate a harrowing road victory.