New Orleans built an 11-point first-half lead over Southwest Division counterpart Dallas on national TV Tuesday, but from there, it was all Mavericks and all Luka Doncic. Dallas’ second-year star rolled to 33 points and 18 rebounds, logging only 28 minutes as the Mavericks didn’t need his services in the fourth quarter.
The Pelicans began the second period with an 11-0 run to go up 35-24, but the Mavs outscored the hosts 35-18 the rest of the stanza to build a halftime lead. Dallas kept adding to the margin after intermission, using a 20-9 spurt in the fourth quarter to build a 20-point advantage.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Seth Curry drained a couple three-pointers, the latter from the left corner, to extend Dallas’ lead to 99-81 with 7:04 remaining. The Mavericks kept threatening to take complete command in the second half, but used a spurt at the outset of the fourth quarter to build their biggest edge of the night to that point. The Pelicans are still seeking their first division win after four tries.
PELICANS PLAYER OF THE GAME
On a night when New Orleans had trouble clearing 40 percent from the field, Brandon Ingram turned in an efficient performance, going 8/16 from the field and leading the Pelicans with 24 points. He was 7/7 from the foul line and registered five rebounds and six assists. Ingram came up with three steals in the first few minutes, nearly tying his career high in thefts of four.
#PLUSMINUSGOINGUPONATUESDAY
For all 12 Tuesday games throughout New Orleans’ regular season, we’ll be selecting a Pelicans player we think will have the best plus-minus on the stat sheet that night. Daniel Sallerson selected Josh Hart, while Jim Eichenhofer picked E’Twaun Moore. In a fan poll among four other candidates, Jrue Holiday was chosen. The winner of the third plus-minus contest was Sallerson, but it was definitely not something to write home about, with Hart at minus-9. It still counts though, making the season standings a flat-footed tie of Daniel 1, Jim 1, Fans 1.
Previous winners
Oct. 22 at Toronto, Jim – Nicolo Melli (Daniel pick: Brandon Ingram; Fans: Jrue Holiday)
Nov. 19 vs. Portland, Fans – Brandon Ingram (Daniel: Nickeil Alexander-Walker; Jim: Kenrich Williams)
