Pelicans hold off Chicago Bulls for victory in triple overtime

New Orleans battled the Chicago Bulls through three overtime periods last night at the United Center and the Pelicans survived claiming a  grueling 131-128 victory sparked by Ryan Anderson's career-high 36 points. Anderson, the Pels' leading scorer, averaging 22.6 points per game is also the club's top long-range shooter.
He clicked on 7-of-11 attempts from 3-point range and has drained 35-of-63 three-pointers, hitting at an amazing 55.6 percent from behind the arc. Anderson missed the first nine games of the season recovering from an early season toe injury. Jrue Holiday recorded a double-double with 19 points and 12 assists, hitting the game-winner. Holiday also hit a clutch 18-footer with 3.9 seconds left in regulation to force the first overtime. Eric Gordon chipped in with 23 points.
The Pelicans' Anthony Davis, who is averaging a double-double with 18.8 points per game and 10.2
rebounds, missed the game after suffering a fractured left hand in Sunday's 103-99 victory over the New York Knicks. The Bulls, who slipped to 7-9, were led by Luol Deng, who poured in a game-high 37 points with eight rebounds and seven assists. Chicago reserve Taj Gibson delivered a double-double with 26 points and 14 rebounds, while Joachim Noah added a double-double of his own with 19 points and 10 boards. Mike Dunleavy contributed 23 points in the loss. The 9-8 Pelicans, the winners of three straight, return home and host the Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitski tomorrow night in the Arena with a seven o'clock tip off.