Mavericks at Pelicans
The Dallas Mavericks ended a long losing streak with a win over the New Orleans Pelicans the day after Christmas. They'll try to make it two wins in a row when the teams meet again Friday night in the Big Easy, their third encounter in roughly three weeks.
Behind rookie Luka Doncic's 21 points, including key free throws in the final minute, the Mavericks picked up a 122-119 win over the Pelicans at home Wednesday night, snapping a six-game slide. "Every little thing that happened positively for us has to happen for us to win that game," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle told reporters. "When you have lost six and are desperate to get a win, this is the kind of win you have to have." The Pelicans will be trying to avoid their sixth loss in a row when they open a three-game homestand Friday. Anthony Davis continued his solid play amid the team's struggles with 32 points and 18 rebounds at Dallas.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS Southwest (Dallas), FS New Orleans
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (16-17): Doncic also had 10 assists and finished one rebound shy of recording his first career triple-double in the win over the Pelicans. Center DeAndre Jordan added 20 points and 12 rebounds for his fifth consecutive double-double, and he is 13-of-15 from the floor over the last two games. Jordan had season lows in points (two) and shots (two) in 24 minutes of a 132-106 loss at New Orleans on Dec. 5.
ABOUT THE PELICANS (15-20): Each of New Orleans' five straight losses have come by single digits as the club continues to falter down the stretch in close games, getting outscored 32-25 in the fourth quarter at Dallas. "The same stuff. We can't close out a game," Davis told reporters. "I thought we were fighting on the road. Things just weren't going our way." Jrue Holiday scored 25 points and Julius Randle added 23 in Wednesday's loss.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Doncic was held to eight points on 2-of-8 shooting in the loss at New Orleans earlier this month.
2. Davis is averaging 32.4 points and 14.7 rebounds over his last seven games.
3. Mavericks PF Maxi Kleber had a career-high six blocked shots Wednesday.