By Rell Wright, Pelicans Contributor

The New Orleans Pelicans secured a thrilling 98-94 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night, thanks to a clutch performance by Jose Alvarado. With 31 seconds remaining, Alvarado drove to the basket for a reverse layup, drawing a foul on DaQuan Jeffries to complete a go-ahead three-point play.

Moments later, a costly turnover by Jeffries allowed Keion Brooks Jr. to seal the win with a layup. Brooks led the Pelicans with 17 points, while Antonio Reeves contributed 16. Despite missing key players Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum, New Orleans demonstrated grit and resilience to notch their second straight victory.

Meanwhile, the struggling Hornets suffered their fifth consecutive loss, as Nick Smith Jr.’s late three-pointer and Miles Bridges‘ team-high 20 points weren’t enough to reverse their fortunes.

This win, however, complicates New Orleans‘ standing in the race for a higher draft pick. The Pelicans, without Zion for the fifth straight game and CJ sidelined for a third, leaned on their depth to edge out Charlotte. Jose Alvarado’s decisive play underscored his value as a spark plug for a team balancing short-term success with long-term goals.

On the other side, the Hornets continued adjusting to life without LaMelo Ball, who is out for the season with ankle and wrist injuries. Despite Jusuf Nurkic’s 13-point, 12-rebound effort, Charlotte struggled offensively, shooting just 35.2% from the field.

With tough matchups ahead, both teams face pivotal moments as they navigate an intriguing mix of development and competitiveness in the waning stretch of the season.