Tyreke Evans drilled the game-winning jumper with 1.2 seconds left, sending the New Orleans Pelicans to a thrilling 110-108 victory over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on Monday.
Damian Lillard buried a straight-away 3-pointer to knot the score at 108-108 with 10.9 ticks left, setting the stage for Evans' heroics.
With New Orleans coach Monty Williams opting not to take a time-out, Evans pushed the ball up court before launching his clutch 20-foot jumper from the left side over Mo Williams for the last of his 20 points.
The Trail Blazers had a final shot at the win but LaMarcus Aldridge's contested 12-foot baseline jumper hit the top of the backboard as time ran out.
Jrue Holiday had 31 points, including 15 in the final frame along with 13 assists, Anthony Davis contributed 27 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks for the Pelicans (14-15) who have won three of four.
Lillard netted 29 points and Aldridge finished with 28 for the Blazers (24-7), coming off Saturday's last-second overtime loss to Miami.
Elsewhere: LeBron James returned from a groin injury to celebrate his 29th birthday with 26 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, and the visiting Miami Heat handed the Denver Nuggets their seventh straight loss 97-94.
Chris Bosh had 17 points as the two-time defending champions completed a 3-1 road trip despite losing Dwyane Wade in the second half to back spasms and Norris Cole to a facial injury in the third quarter.
Ty Lawson had 26 points to pace the Nuggets, who match their losing slide since 2003.
Denver trailed 97-94 when Lawson bounced a potential game-tying 3-point try off the rim. But the ball went out of bounds off Miami giving the Nuggets another shot with 1.8 ticks left.
The Heat's Udonis Haslem pressured JJ Hickson on the inbound pass, and forced a game-ending five-second violation.
Shawn Marion scored a season-high 32 points and the visiting Dallas Mavericks held off the Minnesota Timberwolves 100-98.
Marion was involved in controversy on the final play when he clearly fouled Kevin Love on the arm on the potential game-winning three-pointer but no call was made.
Love finished with 36 points and 11 rebounds for the T-Wolves, who fell short after outscoring the visitors 38-19 in the final frame.
In other games: the visiting Chicago Bulls held off the Memphis Grizzlies 95-91; the visiting Washington Wizards ran away from the Detroit Pistons 106-99; and the visiting Phoenix Suns scorched the LA Clippers 107-88.
