New Orleans Pelicans: Top 10 moments from 2017-18 NBA season

5. DeMarcus Cousins’ game for the record books against the Chicago Bulls

Even good teams need a bit of luck from time to time, as was the case when the Pelicans played against the Chicago Bulls back on Jan. 22. Fast forwarding to the fourth quarter, the Bulls started off the final frame with a 23-5 run to take what appeared to be a commanding 104-86 lead.

As they had done multiple times during the season, the Pelicans overcame a double-digit deficit and took a 114-112 lead in the waning seconds of regulation. Their luck appeared to run out when they fouled Bulls guard Justin Holiday on a 3-point attempt.

Holiday converted his first two attempts. However, the third attempt rattled out, sending the game into overtime.

With both teams failing to seize control of the game in the first overtime session, Cousins took matter into his own hands during the second overtime period. In that frame, he scored seven of his team’s 10 points, leading the Pelicans to an improbable 132-128 double-overtime victory.

Cousins finished the game with 44 points, 24 rebounds, 10 assists and four steals in 52 minutes of action. Not only did Cousins’ effort lift the Pelicans to four games over .500 for the first time since 2014-15, he also became just the fifth player in NBA history to produce a stat line of at least 40 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in a game.

The others players to accomplish the feat were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson and Elgin Baylor.