NEW ORLEANS SNAPS 5-GAME SKID
Anthony Davis powers New Orleans Pelicans with 48 points in a close 114-112 win over the Dallas Mavericks
Anthony Davis hit a go-ahead, fall-away jumper with 43.9 seconds left and scored a season-high 48 points to outduel rookie Luka Doncic and lift the New Orleans Pelicans over the Dallas Mavericks 114-112 on Friday night in New Orleans.
Davis was fouled on the shot and made the free throw for a two-point lead. Dallas got two more possessions, but Doncic had a layup blocked by Jrue Holiday, Dennis Smith Jr. missed a 3-pointer and the Mavericks couldn’t get off a shot on a final possession with four seconds left.
Davis also grabbed 17 rebounds and New Orleans snapped a five-game skid. The Pelicans dominated in the paint, scoring 70 points, including 22 from Julius Randle.
Doncic scored 34 points and hit 7 of 10 3-pointers, and Harrison Barnes had 21 points.
In Los Angeles, Lou Williams scored a season-high 36 points, and the Clippers scored 22 consecutive points during the second half in a victory over the depleted Lakers.
Danilo Gallinari added 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers, who held the Lakers without a field goal for more than six minutes late in the first meeting of the season between the Staples Center co-tenants and Los Angeles rivals. The Clippers have won 22 of their last 25 meetings with the Lakers, yet still trail the 16-time NBA champions 14670 in the overall series.
Kyle Kuzma scored 24 points and Lonzo Ball had 19 for the Lakers, who played without LeBron James, Rajon Rondo and JaVale McGee. The remaining Lakers lost for the fifth time in seven games, including back-to-back defeats for only the third time since October.
In Orlando, Nikola Vucevic had 30 points and 20 rebounds and Orlando snapped a fourgame losing streak with a rout of Toronto.
D.J. Augustin had 17 points and six assists for Orlando, which had five players in double figures and a 60-41 rebounding advantage.
Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points for the Raptors. /