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Postgame wrap: Pelicans 138, Jazz 132 (OT)

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New Orleans appeared to have won Thursday, but then it didn’t. Five minutes of basketball later, the Pelicans finally captured an overtime thriller.

Brandon Ingram sank what seemed the likely game-winning basket with two-tenths of a second left vs. Utah, but the Jazz somehow forced overtime when the Pelicans were whistled for a foul on an inbound pass. Rudy Gobert sank one of two free throws to create the extra period.

New Orleans overcame that unfortunate whistle in OT, outscoring Utah 16-10 to secure a narrow victory. Ten days earlier, the Pelicans lost in heartbreaking fashion to the Jazz, with Ingram and Gobert also figuring prominently in the final moments of regulation.

“It ranks up there for me as probably one of the wildest, competitive games (I’ve played in),” said Derrick Favors, who was facing his ex-team. “But for us as a team… everybody in the locker room feels good about how we played and how we handled the situation at the end (of regulation). We came away with a win.”

“That might be the best win of the year for us, for sure,” summarized point guard Lonzo Ball (13 assists).

IT WAS OVER WHEN…

Trailing by four with 13 seconds left in OT, Utah forward Bojan Bogdanovic missed a deep three-point attempt, with the defensive rebound coming to Frank Jackson, who sank two free throws for a six-point edge at 9.9 ticks. Utah couldn’t connect on desperation three-point attempts in an attempt to force another OT.

PELICANS PLAYER OF THE GAME

Ingram racked up 35 points vs. Utah 10 days ago, but that night was probably remembered more for the foul he drew but wasn’t granted at the buzzer. This time, Ingram poured in a career-high 49 points on 15/25 shooting from the field and 16/20 accuracy at the foul. Only a few misfires in OT prevented a 50-point night by Ingram, who has been spectacular on free throws over the past few weeks.

Ingram smiled when he was asked about just missing the 50-point plateau, saying that it won’t bother him as much as one close family member.

“My mom’s going to be more upset than me,” the first-year Pelican said. “(The opportunity to get 50) will come again.”

BY THE NUMBERS

42-31: Utah third quarter edge, which swung the momentum and turned a seven-point Jazz halftime deficit into a four-point lead.

51-41: New Orleans scoring advantage in the fourth quarter and OT.

13: Equally low number of turnovers for both the Pelicans and Jazz, another indication of how well-played and entertaining Thursday’s game was in the Smoothie King Center.

1: Steal apiece by Frank Jackson and E’Twaun Moore, who both came up with momentous defensive plays in overtime.

#THURSDAYTHREES

For all eight Thursday games throughout New Orleans’ regular season, we’ll be selecting a Pelicans player we think will most exceed his season average in made three-pointers that night. Daniel Sallerson selected E’Twaun Moore, while Jim Eichenhofer picked Lonzo Ball. In a fan poll among four other candidates, Brandon Ingram was chosen. The winner of the fourth contest was Sallerson, after Moore topped his average by making two treys (he beat out Ingram by hundredths of a percentage point, when compared to season average entering Thursday). As a result, the season standings are now Jim 2, Daniel 2, Fans 1.

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