Cam Thomas scored 17 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 32 seconds remaining, and the visiting Brooklyn Nets defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 107-105 on Monday night.
Cameron Johnson and Noah Clowney added 15 points each and Dennis Schroder scored 14 as seven Brooklyn players scored in double figures.
Brandon Ingram scored 24, rookie Yves Missi had his first double-double with a season-high 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl scored 15 off the bench for the Pelicans, who lost their fifth straight and eighth in the last nine games. Trey Murphy III, making his season debut after suffering a right hamstring strain in training camp, scored 12.
The Nets scored first seven points of the second half to take a 61-56 lead. The lead changed hands four times and the score was tied four times before the Pelicans scored eight straight points to open an 81-73 lead.
Ben Simmons’ basket stopped the run and Clowney followed with a 3-pointer as the Nets narrowed the deficit to 85-81 at the end of the third quarter.
The Pelicans pushed the lead to as many as seven before two 3-pointers by Thomas and one by Clowney gave Brooklyn a one-point lead at 101-100 with 4:38 left in the game.
Brandon Boston Jr. beat the shot-clock buzzer with a 3-pointer and added a layup to give the Pelicans a 105-101 lead a minute later.
But Johnson made a layup before Thomas hit the key 3-pointer and added a free throw for a 107-105 lead with 14.9 seconds left. The Pelicans’ Javonte Green missed a 3-pointer with five seconds left.
The Nets scored just two points during the first five minutes, but Clowney made two 3-pointers, Johnson and Thomas made one each and Wilson converted a three-point play as they took a 21-16 lead and held a 26-22 edge at the end of the first quarter.
Johnson made a 3-pointer to start the second-quarter scoring before New Orleans went on a 10-0 to take a 32-29 lead.
The score was tied three times before Ingram made two 3-pointers and another field goal to help the Pelicans hold a 56-54 halftime lead.
