New Orleans, LA (SportsNetwork.com) - Eric Gordon's potential game-winning 3- point try rimmed out at the buzzer as the Golden State Warriors survived the New Orleans Pelicans, 102-101, at New Orleans Arena.
The outcome was fittingly decided in the closing seconds after neither team led by more than six points in the final frame.
All five Warriors starters scored in double figures to snap a three-game slide, led by Klay Thompson's 22-point, eight-assist effort. David Lee added 18 points and seven rebounds, Jermaine O'Neal chipped in with 18 and eight and Stephen Curry handed out a game-high nine assists to go with 16 points.
"These games are character builders for us because we're trying to do something special. And not every game is going to be easy for us," O'Neal said.
Ryan Anderson paced the Pelicans with team highs of 21 points and 12 boards, but the club dropped its second game in as many nights.
Jrue Holiday and Gordon netted 17 and 16 points, respectively, and the backcourt duo each had seven assists in the setback.
Holiday and Gordon were involved in the defining last play, with Holiday driving the lane and finding Gordon in the left corner for an open look. The ball looked to be halfway in the hoop before rolling around and out, and Thompson secured the rebound to seal the win.
"You can't get a more open look than that at the end of the game," Pelicans head coach Monty Williams said. "Eric made the shot the other night and tonight he missed it. It's a cruel game."
O'Neal was a game-time decision with a bruised right knee and a groin strain, but appeared perfectly healthy in crunch time.
The veteran forward broke a 93-93 tie with a turnaround jumper and answered a three-point play from Anthony Davis with another tough bucket inside for a 102-99 Warriors lead with 2:12 to play, which wound up being Golden State's final bucket.
Davis' powerful putback slam of a Tyreke Evans miss made it a one-point game again in the final minute, and Anderson forced O'Neal into a miss prior to the final possession.
New Orleans was held scoreless over the final 3 1/2 minutes of the opening quarter, and the Warriors' subsequent 11-0 run gave them a 28-18 cushion.
Both teams made at least half of their shots in a fast-paced second quarter. Golden State's lead reached as high as 15 and stood at 57-49 at the break.
The Pelicans held the high-scoring Warriors to 19 points in the third and took a 77-76 lead into the fourth.
Game Notes
The Warriors were without forward Andre Iguodala (hamstring) and center Andrew Bogut (suspension) ... Harrison Barnes started in place of Iguodala and netted 14 points ... Davis totaled 14 points and 11 rebounds ... The Warriors won all four meetings vs. New Orleans last season.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.