Let’s start at the end first: after a game-long battle between Pelicans star Brandon Ingram (20 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks) and his defensive counterpart, De’Andre Hunter, it was Hunter who got the last stop.
Ingram missed a potential go-ahead jumper with less than five seconds to go in regulation, Hunter draped all over him, and the New Orleans Pelicans dropped a tight one to the Atlanta Hawks 102-99. Devonte’ Graham had 21 points and six assists; Jonas Valanciunas had 16 points, 15 rebounds.
The Pelicans jumped out to an early lead thanks to a cold 0-10 start from 3 by the Hawks, and played most of the second half knotted up in a close one.