TERRENCE JONES filled in brilliantly for injured Anthony Davis, tying a career high with 36 points, grabbing 11 rebounds and blocking LeBron James’ dunk attempt late in the fourth quarter, and the Pelicans held on for a 124-122 victory against the late-charging Cleveland Cavaliers.

    “I just wanted help my team get a win and I think that’s what I did,” Jones said.

    Jrue Holiday added 33 points and 10 assists for the Pelicans, and Langston Galloway capped a 12-point night with a clean steal on James’ drive in the final minute, preventing the Cavs from erasing a deficit they had trimmed from 22 late in the first half to three with 1:32 left in the game.

    Kyrie Irving scored 35 of his 49 points in the second half, mixing decisive jump shots with dazzling drives, but Cleveland fell to its fifth loss in seven games. James had 26 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds, and Kevin Love scored 22 points for the Cavaliers, who could not quite keep pace with a Pelicans squad that tied a season high for 3-pointers with 16 and shot 49.4 percent (43 of 87).

    “They definitely beat us to the punch,” Irving said. “You’ve got to give them credit. They came out and Terrence Jones and Jrue did an unbelievable job attacking the paint, getting other guys involved and other guys made big shots.”

    “For us, we have a few things that we’ve got to correct, especially our interior defense,” Irving added. “Going forward, we’ll be all right.”

    Donatas Moteijunas had 14 points for New Orleans, while Dante Cunningham scored 11.

    The Cavs drained 15 3s, eight by Irving, whose step-back jumper from long range had Cleveland within three with 21 seconds to go, but the Cavs got no closer until Love’s anticlimactic 3 in the final second.

    Embarrassed by a 29-point loss to NBA-worst Brooklyn at home on Friday, the Pelicans were eager for a chance to redeem themselves with a competitive showing against an elite team.

    (SD-Agencies)