NEW ORLEANS -- Jrue Holiday has played in just two games this season, but the New Orleans Pelicans have won both and have their first winning streak of the season.

Holiday, who made his season debut in a victory against Portland on Friday, scored 17 of his 23 points after halftime to help lead the Pelicans to a 121-116 overtime victory against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night in the Smoothie King Center.

"I think it was just a good time to come back," said Holiday, who had been away from the team to be with his wife Lauren, who recently gave birth and had surgery to remove a brain tumor.

Holiday had a game-high nine assists and got plenty of help as Anthony Davis scored 38 points, including a basket that forced overtime and eight points in the extra period, and had a game-high 16 rebounds.

"Huge difference, offensively and defensively," Davis said of having Holiday back. "He brings a presence to the team, energy and effort. When he is on the floor, we play very well."

Langston Galloway had 23 points, including six 3-pointers, five of which sparked a New Orleans comeback from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Galloway had 18 of his points after the third quarter.

Tim Frazier chipped in 17 points for the Pelicans (4-8), who have won four of six.

"(Davis) was great, but it was their other guys," Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. "Galloway was the guy we made the mistakes on -- poor individual defense. You let good guys in this league get going -- the six threes and five of those coming down the stretch when we had a chance to put the game away."

Kemba Walker led the Hornets (8-4) with 25 points, Marco Belinelli had 22 as he tied his career-high with seven 3-pointers (in nine attempts), Frank Kaminsky had 15 points, Nicolas Batum and Marvin Williams scored 13 each and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had 10.

After Williams made a basket to start the overtime scoring, Holiday made one basket and Davis had two to give New Orleans a four-point lead.

Kaminsky scored on a drive and Davis answered with a layup before Batum's three free throws got Charlotte within one with 41 seconds left.

Davis leaned in to make a short jumper and Batum made a free throw after a technical on Dante Cunningham, leaving the Pelicans with a two-point lead.

Walker missed a jumper and Holiday made 1-of-3 free throws, giving New Orleans a three-point lead with 10 seconds left.

Batum missed a 3-pointer and Frazier made two free throws as the Pelicans won for the first time in three overtime games this season.

"We are starting to close games out," Holiday said. "When we get up down the stretch and we have the lead we keep that advantage. We're executing down the stretch better."

New Orleans outscored Charlotte 47-31 in the fourth quarter and overtime. In that time it shot 51.6 percent from the floor, including 61.5 percent on 3-pointers, while the Hornets shot 32.1 percent from the floor, including 23.1 percent on 3-pointers.

"They just made the right plays," Walker said. "As a team we just made so many mistakes and they capitalized on every mistake that we made. We paid for it. We played in spurts and that's something that's been hurting us."

Walker took control to start the second half. He single-handedly out-scored the Hornets 13-11 during a 24-11 run that gave the Hornets a 70-58 lead midway through the third quarter.

Belinelli made three 3-pointers and finished with 10 third-quarter points as Charlotte took an 85-74 lead into the fourth quarter.

Galloway made four consecutive 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter, but could only cut the deficit to seven midway through the period.

"When we were down double figures (in the fourth quarter)," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said, "we said, let's just keep grinding and try to give ourselves an opportunity in the last minute if the game to win. I thought we did that. I thought we competed like crazy."

Galloway and Davis both made 3-pointers as New Orleans got within 103-100 with three minutes left.

After a free throw by Kidd-Gilchrist, Galloway made three free throws and Holiday scored on a drive to give New Orleans a one-point lead.

After Walker scored four points, Davis made 1-of-3 free throws and scored on a put-back to tie the score with 18 seconds left.

Walker missed a jumper shortly before the buzzer and the game went into overtime.

Davis scored the Pelicans first nine points, but his teammates were slow starting as the Hornets took a 23-21 lead after one quarter.

Kidd-Gilchrist scored five points as Charlotte began the second quarter with a 9-3 run.

Kaminsky's 3-pointer gave the Hornets their biggest lead of the half, 41-30, before Frazier ignited the New Orleans offense. Frazier scored on a drive to complete a 10-2 run that got the Pelicans within three.

After Batum made a jumper, Cunningham hit a 3-pointer and Frazier made two free throws to tie the score. Kidd-Gilchrist made a free throw before Frazier's jumper with 24 seconds left in the half gave New Orleans a 47-46 halftime lead.

NOTES: Hornets F/C Cody Zeller did not dress because of a shoulder injury sustained during a 100-96 victory against the Hawks on Friday. "He got somehow pushed or jammed on a play at the basket," Charlotte coach Steve Clifford said. "He's really sore and he did treatment all day trying to warm up." ... Pelicans PG Jrue Holiday will continue to play limited minutes after recording 23 as he made his season debut Friday in a 113-101 victory against Portland. He had been with his wife Lauren, who recently gave birth and underwent brain surgery. "He's not going to play 30 minutes or anything like that," New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry said. ... Pelicans F Terrence Jones had all five of his double-digit scoring games this season during the eight contests preceding Saturday. ... Hornets G/F Marco Belinelli played two seasons in New Orleans (2010-12). ... Pelicans C Alexis Ajinca (2008-09) and F Dante Cunningham (2010-11) played in Charlotte.