Pelicans at Mavericks
Point guard Elfrid Payton looks to become the third player in NBA history to post five consecutive triple-doubles when his New Orleans Pelicans visit the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night. Payton is averaging 14.8 points, 13.3 assists and 12.5 rebounds during the run to become the fifth NBA player to string four triple-doubles together and can join Russell Westbrook along with Michael Jordan as the only players with at least five in a row.
“Trying to help as much as I can,” Payton told reporters after the 138-136 overtime loss to Phoenix on Saturday. “... Some nights I’m not going to shoot well, so I’m trying to get my teammates shots. Sometimes I might not be passing the ball well, so I try to help rebounding. … Just trying to impact the game in different ways as much as possible.” The Pelicans have lost six straight games despite Payton’s magical run and Saturday’s defeat came after coach Alvin Gentry called a timeout the team did not have with 1.1 seconds left in overtime, allowing Devin Booker to drain the go-ahead free throw. The Mavericks snapped a seven-game losing streak Saturday with a 121-116 win over Cleveland as Dirk Nowitzki scored 14 points to move within three of Wilt Chamberlain (31,419) for sixth on the NBA’s all-time list and the veteran forward hopes to pass him Monday. “Breaking records is always fun,” Nowitzki told reporters. “If it happens at home, it’s even more special for fans that have been riding with you for such a long time.”
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS New Orleans, FS Southwest (Dallas)
ABOUT THE PELICANS (30-42): Forward Julius Randle is also on a strong four-game run, averaging 28 points on 50.5 percent shooting, while All-Star Anthony Davis owns double-doubles in two straight games to push his season total to 36. Jrue Holiday (abdominal) and E’Twaun Moore (quad) are each expected to miss their sixth straight game on Monday, and that has given more playing time to fellow guard Frank Jackson, who is averaging 16.7 points over the past six contests. Center Jahlil Okafor scored in double figures in back-to-back games for the first time since early February, averaging 12.5 the last two.
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (28-41): Rookie of the Year frontrunner Luka Doncic (21 points, 5.7 assists) missed Saturday’s contest with a knee injury and his status for the matchup with New Orleans is uncertain. Rookie guard Jalen Brunson is averaging 21.2 points - more than 12 above his season mark - and 5.6 assists over the last five games while forward Dwight Powell (10.2 points overall) scored at least 16 in three straight contests. Guard Tim Hardaway Jr. is averaging 15.2 points in 17 games (15 starts) since being acquired by the Mavericks - 19.5 in the last two contests.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Dallas F Max Kleber owns double-doubles in three of his last four games, including 18 points and a career-high 12 rebounds Saturday.
2. New Orleans F Cheick Diallo had 10 points and 10 rebounds Saturday for his fourth double-double this month.
3. The Pelicans won four of the last five meetings, including two of three this season back in December.