It wasn’t an impressive first 36 minutes from New Orleans, trailing Portland by 10 heading into the fourth.

It was an impressive final twelve minutes for the Pelicans as they fought back, giving them a chance to win in the final seconds. With the game tied, the Pelicans put the ball in Brandon Ingram’s hands and switched him to a smaller defenseman in Anfernee Simons, and it still wasn’t pretty — he shot it down the stretch — but all that matters is the results.

Portland had one more chance, it got the ball to Simons in the backcourt and allowed him to steamroll to the rim, but Herb Jones defended and took away an easy lane and that gave Zion Williamson a corner to win the game to make. save block.

The Pelicans are now 2-0 to start the season despite injuries to Trey Murphy III (hamstring). Dejounte Murray (hand surgery). It may not have been all pretty, but their stars made plays when it mattered, and that’s all that mattered.