It’s big queasy for Nets

NEW ORLEANS — Fittingly, the Nets ended January on a painful note.

Jrue Holiday hit a 15-foot shot with 1.3 seconds remaining and the New Orleans Pelicans held off Brooklyn, 105103, in a back-and-forth finish on Saturday night, sending the visitors to 3-13 for the month. It was the Nets’ third straight loss and eighth in nine games.

Throw in the firing of coach Lionel Hollins and demoting of general manager Billy King, which both came on Jan. 10, and it’s been a particularly brutal month for the Nets (1236), who will next play host to Detroit on Monday to start February. Brook Lopez scored 33 points and had 10 rebounds to lead the Nets. Wayne Ellington added 18 points.

New Orleans’ Anthony Davis scored 20 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in his first game back after sitting out with a concussion. Davis started 0 for 10 from the floor before finding his rhythm.

The Pelicans (18-28) and Davis were helped by ex-Net Ryan Anderson’s 24 points off the bench. Holiday’s final shot gave him a team-best 26 points, and he finished with seven assists.

Holiday ’s game-w inner came after Joe Johnson had tied the game for the Nets with a deep 3-pointer from the top of the arc with 6.9 seconds left.

Davis didn’t start his first game looking like he was ready to return, but in the second half, the fourth-year forward showed why he’s making his third-straight All-Star appearance. And New Orleans needed his help in the second half. Brooklyn had answers for every first-half run by New Orleans and took a 51-44 lead into halftime. The Nets shot 52% in the first 24 minutes and led despite forcing only one turnover.

Davis got going after halftime, though. He went 6-for-10 in the third quarter and scored New Orleans’ first eight points of the half. But it was Holiday who sealed the win. He scored 16 fourth-quarter points, including the final seven for New Orleans.