If a New Orleans Pelicans game is headed for a close finish nowadays, you might as well avoid the heartache and just expect that disappointing loss before the final buzzer.
After beginning the 2018-19 season with a 4-0 record — which actually included a couple of clutch-time victories, the Pelicans have managed to win just one of nine contests since in which the score was five points or less inside the final five minutes of a game.
During this past week alone, New Orleans lost 129-126 to the Clippers on Monday after leading 119-115 with 4:39 remaining, and last night, they watched the Grizzlies claw back to a 107-103 win after the Pelicans were enjoying a 100-92 advantage with 5:18 left.