Davis, Cousins lead Pelicans past Mavericks
NEW ORLEANS -- Anthony Davis scored 30 points and DeMarcus Cousins had 29 as the New Orleans Pelicans held off the Dallas Mavericks 121-118 on Wednesday at Smoothie King Center.
Cousins chipped in 16 rebounds and Davis grabbed 13 as the Pelicans (32-43) moved past the Mavericks (31-43) into 10th place in the Western Conference, 4 1/2 games behind the Portland Trail Blazers for the final playoff spot.
Jrue Holiday scored 18 points, and Dante Cunningham and Jordan Crawford had 15 each for New Orleans.
Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas with 23 points, Harrison Barnes scored 19, Seth Curry had 18, Yogi Ferrell 15 and Wesley Matthews 10.
The Pelicans led by 12 points at halftime, but the Mavericks scored the first 10 points of the third quarter.
Cousins stopped the run by converting a three-point play, and Davis scored 10 consecutive New Orleans points as the Pelicans took an 84-72 lead.
Ferrell scored seven points as Dallas pulled within 89-83 after three quarters.
Nowitzki scored the Mavericks' first eight points of the fourth quarter, and Ferrell's jumper gave Dallas a 100-99 lead.
Holiday's basket and Crawford's 3-pointer gave New Orleans a 104-100 lead with 6:50 left.
Dallas got within two points once and three points six times, but the Pelicans never relinquished the lead. The Mavericks' only chance to tie came at the very end, but Matthews' 3-pointer missed at the buzzer.
Davis and Cousins scored eight points apiece as New Orleans took a 27-23 lead after one quarter.
Matthews' 3-pointer got the Mavericks within four points before New Orleans scored 10 consecutive points for a 57-43 lead.
Cousins beat the second-quarter buzzer with a long 3-pointer that gave the Pelicans a 63-51 halftime lead. That made him the fourth Pelican to make a 3-pointer in the period.
NOTES: Pelicans C Anthony Davis extended to four his streak of consecutive games with at least 30 points and 13 rebounds. He entered with a streak of three consecutive games with 30 and 15 before the NBA changed two rebounds he was credited with against Denver last Sunday, leaving him 13 rebounds in that game. ... F DeMarcus Cousins returned to the Pelicans' lineup after missing two games due to a sprained ankle. ... Mavericks G Devin Harris was ejected in the second quarter after receiving two technicals for vehemently arguing a foul call against him. ... New Orleans signed G Quinn Cook to a second 10-day contract. ... Dallas G Seth Curry returned to the lineup after a one-game absence to rest a sore shoulder. ... Mavs C Salah Mejri missed the game because of a sore knee, and coach Rick Carlisle said he hopes Mejri will be back for the team's next game at Memphis on Friday. ... The game started a five-game trip for Dallas and a four-game homestand for New Orleans.