NEW ORLEANS — Josh Jackson hit a tying 3-pointer with 2 seconds left in overtime, the Pelicans were assessed a technical foul when they called a timeout they didn’t have and Devin Booker hit the free throw to give the Phoenix Suns the lead for good in a 138-136 victory on Saturday night.
It was a scenario reminiscent of Chris Webber’s infamous call for a timeout that the Michigan Wolverines didn’t have when they trailed 73-71 to North Carolina in the final seconds of the 1993 national championship game, which ended up giving possession back to the Tar Heels and costing the Wolverines the game.
Booker finished with 40 points to go with 13 assists, and Jackson, who had 19 points, scored the game’s final point on a free throw after he was fouled on an inbound pass with less than a second on the clock.
Elfrid Payton had 16 points, 16 assists and 13 rebounds in his fourth straight triple-double — all coming in the midst of New Orleans’ six-game losing streak.
Julius Randle had 21 points and 11 rebounds, but missed what turned out to be a pivotal free throw with 12 seconds left in overtime.
New Orleans called its final timeout, leading 136-133, after rebounding Booker’s missed 3-point attempt with 7 seconds to go. But when play resumed, Payton was whistled for a 5-second violation while trying to inbound the ball, setting up Jackson’s game-turning 3.
Anthony Davis, who scored the game’s first points on an alley-oop dunk, had 15 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and a block in 22 minutes for New Orleans. The Pelicans trailed 80-75 when Davis left the game for good with 5:15 left in the third quarter, in line with his scaled-back playing time since his trade request in late January.
Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 32 points for Phoenix, which has won five of its past eight games.
New Orleans’ overtime collapse came after the Pelicans also missed a chance to end the game in regulation.
After Booker’s layup tied the game at 122 with 18 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Pelicans called timeout to set up the last shot, but Frank Jackson‘s fade from the top of the key fell short.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.