MAVERICKS RALLY TO BEAT PELICANS, 91-81
DALLAS—Wesley Matthews scored 21 points, including eight during a fourth-quarter rally that gave Dallas the lead for good, and the Mavericks beat the New Orleans Pelicans, 91-81, on Sunday night.
Matthews made a 3-pointer and another basket to give Dallas a 72-71 edge with 5:39 remaining. New Orleans regained
the lead on Anthony Davis’ two free throws, but Matthews made another 3-pointer to put the Mavericks ahead to stay.
Dallas improved to 3-13, still the NBA’s worst record. The Pelicans, who lost eight straight to begin the season, fell to 6-12.
Harrison Barnes led the Mavericks with 23 points. Justin Anderson scored 14 off the bench.
Davis had 36 points and 13 rebounds. Jrue Holiday had 17 points and six assists for New Orleans.
Neither team led by more than two points during the game’s first 10 minutes. Dallas had an 11-0 run to go from trailing 17-15 to a 26-17 lead.
Davis scored 13 of New Orleans’ first 17 points, including 10 in a row.
The Pelicans pulled within 44-42 at halftime, when Davis had 19 points. Barnes led Dallas with 12.
Davis scored the first five points of the second half to give the Pelicans a 47-44 lead. He totaled nine points and Anderson had six points in the quarter, which ended in a 60-all tie.
Holiday gave New Orleans a 68-62 lead with two 3-pointers.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: Return home to play the Lakers on Tuesday. New Orleans lost at home to Los Angeles 126-99 on Nov. 12 to fall to 1-9.
Mavericks: Finish a brief two-game homestand on Wednesday against the Spurs. The Mavericks lost 96-91 at San Antonio on Nov. 21.
TIP-INS
Pelicans: They were without F Dante Cunningham (fractured right fibula) and G/F Tyreke Evans (right knee injury). New Orleans recalled F Cheick Diallo from Austin of the D-League.
Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki (strained right Achilles tendon) did not play. He played in Dallas’ previous two games, but has missed 11 of the Mavs’ 16 games this season.