Pelicans Coach Monty Williams
On how exciting the win was:
“Yeah, we’ve had finishes like that, that didn’t go our way, and we’ve had some that have gone our way. We’ve been in so many close games over the last four years. We aren’t use to it, but guys continue to step up and do the best they can. Tonight you saw greatness, and a guys that don’t run from it. For him (Anthony Davis) to have 41 points, ten rebounds against their defense. Tyreke had a triple-double. With Eric (Gordon) picking up foul trouble, Ryan (Anderson) and Quincy (Pondexter) playing big off the bench says a lot about our growth as a team and ability to stay in there. I thought when we went down 12 we could of tucked our tails and looked forward to Chicago tomorrow night, but our guys stayed in there and stated the course. Our hurdles, they were great tonight, Quincy and Dante (Cunningham) brought a different edge to our huddles because they always talk about defense, and that helps.”
On the last play and how the outcome wasn’t what it was drawn up:
“Yeah we were trying to get a lob but they went zone, so I told AD (Anthony Davis) if you see the guy go underneath then pop back, not knowing that he was going to pop back for a three, but he just made a great read. They came out running a zone so they kind of freed up some space to move around, and because of the movement he pops free and makes a great play. I wish I could say I drew that up, but I didn’t. I was drawing it up for him to get at a different spot. He just makes one of the best plays of his career if not the best.”
Pelicans Forward Ryan Anderson:
On the game:
"As soon as you think you've seen it all, there's something else. It was a great win. A great game. Very back and forth, playoff atmosphere, and I know they really wanted this game too so it feels really good to leave here with a 'W'."
On the pace of the game:
"We just needed to match their aggression, effort and energy. I think that they came out strong in the 1st quarter and we needed to match that. I think after that first quarter we continued to play at the type of pace that we want to play. We kind of made them play our style of basketball at the end of the game which is great. We made some key plays, big plays. Just crazy. It was a crazy game."
On Anthony Davis:
"There is no nervousness. He's just very confident through the whole game. He knocked down huge free throws. He's a young guy and to be able to do that in a high pressure game, and hit a huge game winner, it just says so much about him. He's just at another level. He just continues to get better and better, and surprise us every day with something new. That's going to be one of the shots that forever in his career he'll look back and hopefully in awe that it dropped himself. He continues to be fun to watch."
Pelicans Forward Anthony Davis:
On the game-winning shot:
"I tried to go up for a lob, and for them to throw it up to the rim for me to go get it, but Steven Adams was under it, so I just waited and popped back and just tried and get a look at it. KD and I think Russell started flying in so I just double pumped and then heard the buzzer."
On the intensity of the game:
"In the 3rd quarter they made a run, but we just continued to fight and stick with our game plan and try to defend, and when we defended we made big plays. It went down to the wire. It felt like a playoff game. I've never been in a playoff game but I can imagine that's what it would feel like."