DETROIT (AP) — Brandon Ingram scored 26 points, Jonas Valanciunas added 13 points and 13 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 15-point deficit to beat the Detroit Pistons 111-101 on Tuesday night.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 14 of New Orleans’ 54 bench points, as the Pelicans ended a four-game losing streak.
The Pistons, who overcame a 15-0 deficit to beat Cleveland on Sunday, led 76-61 with 7:38 left in the third quarter. But with Cade Cunningham sidelined by a hip pointer, they were outscored 50-25 the rest of the way.
Detroit’s Jerami Grant had 17 points in his return after missing 24 games with a thumb injury.
Ingram hit two free throws with 8 minutes remaining to give New Orleans a 94-93 lead, its first since the first quarter. Without Cunningham, Detroit went nearly five minutes without scoring before Cory Joseph’s jumper made it 97-95 with 4:46 to play.
Detroit’s shooting woes combined with New Orleans winning battles on the offensive glass allowed the Pelicans to go up 107-98 with 1:59 to play and win comfortably.
Grant scored 10 points in the final two minutes of the first half, giving the Pistons a 65-57 lead. That grew to 15 early in the third quarter, but New Orleans replied with a 13-2 run to pull within 78-74.
Gary Clark’s 3-pointer cut the lead to one with 8.3 seconds left in the quarter, but Killian Hayes’ layup beat the buzzer to give Detroit an 87-84 advantage.
TIP-INS
Pelicans: Valanciunas finished with six of New Orleans’ 16 offensive rebounds. ... New Orleans finished with a 25-13 edge in second-chance points.
Pistons: Grant had a four-point possession in the second quarter, hitting a free throw after a technical foul was called on Ingram, then making a 3-pointer. ... Kelly Olynyk (knee) played for just the third time since Nov. 10.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: Visit the Denver Nuggets on Friday.
Pistons: Host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday.
