Zion Williamson, Pelicans down Mavs to continue winning ways

Zion Williamson scored 27 points and Saddiq Bey added 23 as the New Orleans Pelicans beat the visiting Dallas Mavericks 129-111 on Monday for their third win in four games.

Trey Murphy III and Jeremiah Fears contributed 17 points each for the Pelicans, while Karlo Matkovic produced 13 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

New Orleans' Yves Missi pulled in 10 boards and tied his career high with five blocks as he returned to the starting lineup. He took the spot of Dejounte Murray, who sat out due to illness after scoring a combined 62 points in the Pelicans' most recent two outings.

Naji Marshall posted 32 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for Dallas, which took its 10th loss in 12 games. Cooper Flagg had 21 points, eight assists and seven boards, and P.J. Washington added 18 points.

The game was played on the Mavericks' terms early, the visitors forging ahead 23-13 on a Flagg steal and dunk, before the error-riddled Pelicans clicked into gear.

Bey dominated a 13-0 surge that produced the game's final lead change, with New Orleans going up 26-23 after Bey's three-point play.

Bey had 10 points in the opening period and Williamson added nine as New Orleans went up 32-26 before going on to win every quarter.

Dallas closed within 36-35 on a Max Christie trey before the Pelicans assumed control once again, owning the paint to sprint clear 60-42 as the Mavericks' struggles in the halfcourt continued.

Williamson had another nine for the quarter, giving him 18 at halftime, by which stage New Orleans led 67-54.

The Pelicans' cushion stretched out to a game-high 19 points -- 103-84 -- late in the third. Marshall, who had 12 points in the period, scored on a turnaround in the final seconds to make it 103-86.

Flagg and Marshall kept pushing in the fourth as the margin tightened to 12 points, but Dallas was unable to make further inroads into the deficit.