Dallas Mavericks Defeat New Orleans Pelicans 118-115

The Dallas Mavericks continued the homestand with a home game, also an NBA Cup match, against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday. The Mavericks defeated the Pelicans 118-115 at the American Airlines Center. Dallas improved to 5-12, while New Orleans fell to 2-14.

In case you missed it, Daniel Gafford recorded the 600th block of his NBA career. Gafford, 27, was a bright light amid Dallas’ 113-111 loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday. Dallas lost to New York due to a controversial call as the officials missed a foul.

Dallas Mavericks vs. New Orleans Pelicans Starters

Friday’s game could’ve been described as a battle between two bottom-feeders. Dallas’ starting lineup featured Brandon Williams, Max Christie, Cooper Flagg, PJ Washington, and Gafford. Dallas ruled out Kyrie Irving (knee), Dante Exum (knee), Anthony Davis (calf), Ryan Nembhard (knee), and D’Angelo Russell (illness).

New Orleans’ starting lineup featured Trey Murphy III, Jeremiah Fears, Herb Jones, Zion Williamson, and Derik Queen. New Orleans ruled out Dejounte Murray (Achilles), Jordan Poole (quadriceps), and Karlo Matkovic (calf).

Mavericks vs. Pelicans Recap

Friday’s game was dubbed a Western Conference clash. The Mavericks-Pelicans rivalry may not be massive, but it’s a good enough aspect of NBA history. Back then, Dirk Nowitzki became the Mavericks’ all-time leading scorer, while Chris Paul shone as a standout player for the Pelicans.

New Orleans jumped out to a fast start, outscoring Dallas 10-5 by the eight-minute mark of the first quarter. Jones scored his first bucket of the game on his first play. Dallas sped up. Flagg drove through traffic for the layup. Washington nailed his 700th career three-pointer. New Orleans took a 34-25 lead to end the first.

Dallas quickly got on the board, outscoring New Orleans 8-5 by the 10-minute mark of the second quarter. Turnovers affected Dallas, while New Orleans dominated in three-pointers. New Orleans’ six straight points led to a 53-40 lead — their largest lead of the game — at 5:51. New Orleans took a 63-49 lead into halftime.

Dallas’ three-pointer opened the third quarter on a high note. Dallas’ 21-9 run impressed the home crowd. Turnovers still affected Dallas, while New Orleans kept the game close. Queen recorded his first career double-double with 14 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists, and 1 steal. Dallas took an 85-84 lead after three quarters.

Both teams opened the fourth quarter with a bang. Williams’ 12 assists tied his career high. PJ Washington energized the team and the fanbase with a poster dunk. Both teams’ efforts didn’t go unnoticed as the game went down to the wire. Marshall’s three-pointer put the team in the driver’s seat. Dallas won 118-115 in regulation.

Final Thoughts

Dallas concludes its homestand with a home game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Central. New Orleans returns home to host the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. The game will be broadcast on FDSSE.