In one of the most improbable, frustrating endings to a game an NBA team will ever experience, New Orleans couldn’t hold on to a 17-point fourth-quarter – or a three-point lead despite having two free throws in the final seconds – losing in excruciating fashion to Portland on Tuesday.
The Pelicans led 117-100 in the final period, before the Trail Blazers went on a 16-0 run to create a nail-biting finish. Still, New Orleans was up 124-121 with 7 seconds left and had elite foul shooter Brandon Ingram at the line, but he missed both tosses. Trailing by a point as time was about to expire, Portland All-Star guard Damian Lillard was fouled by Eric Bledsoe on a two-point jumper, then made both free throws with 1.