AFP/New York
Tyreke Evans outduelled three defenders to sink the game-winning layup with one second left as the New Orleans Pelicans rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the Toronto Raptors 95-93.
Evans attracted the attention of a trio of Raptors but still managed to get his sweeping layup to fall from in close in front of a crowd of 19,800 at the Air Canada Center on Sunday.
Despite playing without injured stars Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday, the Pelicans looked to Evans and reserve centre Alexis Ajinca, who tallied 26 and 22 points.
Toronto guard DeMar DeRozan missed a fadeaway three-point attempt at the buzzer.
Evans also had five rebounds and five assists, while Ajinca came off the bench to shoot 10-of-13 from the floor in 34 minutes of playing time.
Eric Gordon scored 14 points for the Pelicans, who improved to 2-2 on their five-game road trip.
DeRozan, who was playing in his third game since returning from a groin injury, paced the Raptor attack with 22 points. Lou Williams scored 17 points and Greivis Vasquez added 16 and nine assists, as Toronto lost for the seventh time in their last nine contests.
The Pelicans led by 14 at the half but trailed 71-64 heading into the final quarter as Toronto scored the final six points of the third.
Elsewhere, Tiago Splitter became the 12th different player to lead the Spurs in scoring this season, recording a game-high 14 points in a comfortable 89-69 victory over the Utah Jazz.
The Spurs (26-16) have won eight straight games against Utah (14-27) in San Antonio since a last home loss to the Jazz in January 2010.
Guard Danny Green scored 13 points for the Spurs, all in the fourth quarter, when he made three three-point baskets.
Reserve center Rudy Gobert led Utah with 13 points, a career-best 18 rebounds and four blocks. Forward Gordon Hayward scored 10.
