HOLIDAY SAVES PELICANS WITH BIG FOURTH QUARTER

ORLEANS» Jrue Holiday

NEW scored 19 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter and the Pelicans overcame an eight-point deficit in the final period to beat the short-handed 76ers 131-124 on Sunday night.

Anthony Davis added 29 points and DeMarcus Cousins 23 for New Orleans, which appeared out of sync in the third quarter and in danger of dropping a second straight at home before Holiday took over.

Rajon Rondo, who sat out the Pelicans’ collapse against Sacramento on Friday night, returned with 13 points and 18 assists.

Ben Simmons, who played one season at LSU before being selected first overall in the 2016 draft, had 27 points and 10 rebounds.

SUNDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

Al Horford had 18 points, Kyrie Irving scored 16 and the Celtics get revenge for a rare loss, beating the Pistons 91-80. The Eastern Conference-leading Celtics bounced back from a loss Friday night at San Antonio, extending their feat of losing consecutive games only once this season. The Pistons, meanwhile, have lost six straight for the first time since late in the 2014-15 season. Boston shut down the Pistons’ offense after giving up a seasonhigh 118 points to them in a loss at home last month. … DeMar DeRozan scored 13 of his 25 points in the third quarter and the Raptors held off the Kings 102-87 for their sixth straight victory. Kyle Lowry added 15 points, 12 rebounds and six assists on an off-night shooting, Serge Ibaka scored 20 points, and C.J. Miles had 11 for the Raptors. They won for the first time in Sacramento since 2014. Toronto led by 15 in the first half but couldn’t shake the Kings until the third when DeRozan repeatedly got into the lane and to the free throw line. … KarlAnthony Towns had 28 points, Jimmy Butler scored 10 of his 22 in the fourth quarter and the Timberwolves held on for a 97-92 win against the Mavericks. Towns added 12 rebounds, including four on the offensive end, for his NBA-leading 21st double-double of the season. … Kristaps Porzingis scored 30 points, Doug McDermott added 23 off the bench and the Knicks withstood a late push from the Hawks for a 111-107 victory. New York held off a fourth-quarter rally by the Hawks. The Knicks appeared to have the game put away after three straight points from Jarrett Jack and Porzingis gave them a 101-92 lead with 3:46 left.