Kyrie Irving guides short-handed Mavericks past Pelicans

Field Level Media|published: Mon 15th January, 17:41 2024

Jan 15, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) shoots the ball over New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (5) during the second quarter at the American Airlines Center. credits: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Kyrie Irving scored 42 points, Tim Hardaway Jr. made nine 3-pointers and scored 41 and the short-handed Dallas Mavericks defeated the visiting New Orleans Pelicans 125-120 on Monday afternoon.

Josh Green scored 13 points and Dereck Lively II had 12 rebounds for the Mavericks, who played without Luka Doncic (ankle), Dante Exum (plantar fascia) and Derrick Jones Jr. (calf) but managed to outscore New Orleans 33-21 in the fourth quarter.

Zion Williamson scored 30 points to lead the Pelicans. CJ McCollum had 23, Trey Murphy III and Larry Nance Jr. scored 14 apiece, Brandon Ingram scored 12 and Herbert Jones Jr. added 10.

The score was tied four times and the lead changed hands four times in the third quarter before four Pelicans scored during a 9-0 run that gave them a 90-82 lead.

Irving made one of two free throws and Grant Williams' layup ended a field-goal drought of more than three minutes for the Mavericks, but New Orleans held a 99-92 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Dallas closed within four early in the fourth quarter, but consecutive jumpers by McCollum gave the Pelicans a 111-104 lead midway through the period.

But Hardaway made two 3-pointers, Grant Williams made one and the Mavericks surged ahead 115-111.

New Orleans got within two points before Green's 3-pointer pushed the lead to six with 1:27 left.

The Pelicans missed an opportunity to tie when Williamson made one of two free throws, leaving Dallas with a 121-120 lead with 17 seconds left. Ingram missed a potential tying 3-pointer with six seconds left.

Lively and Irving scored four points apiece during a 12-0 run that gave the Mavericks a 16-5 lead.

The Pelicans had a field-goal drought of more than five minutes and Hardaway's 3-pointer left the Mavericks with a 33-17 lead at the end of the first quarter.

McCollum and Williamson each scored seven points as the Pelicans began the second quarter with a 19-2 run that produced a 36-35 lead.

The lead continued to change hands before Ingram's layup produced a 59-all halftime tie.

—Field Level Media

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