Mavs Defeat Pelicans
The Mavericks used a 16-9 run in the fourth quarter to turn a five-point deficit (100-95) into a two-point lead (111-109). Devin Harris (10) and J.J. Barea (6) combined to score all 16 of Dallas’ points during the run (Harris scored the first 10 and Barea capped the run with back-to-back 3-pointers).
Mavericks rookie guard/forward Luka Dončić finished one rebound shy of his first career triple-double with a team-high 21 points (11-12 FTs) to go along with nine rebounds, a game-high 10 assists and one steal in 31 minutes. Dončić (19 years, 301 days) would have become the youngest player in NBA history to record his first career triple-double. Markelle Fultz (19 years, 317 days), who had 13 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists vs. Milwaukee on 4/11/18, is currently the youngest ever to do so. Dončić produced his fifth career double-double (second career point/assist double-double). He scored 20-plus points for the 18th time in his first 32 career games.
Dončić is averaging 21.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game over his last 10 games (12/8-12/26).
Mavericks center DeAndre Jordan posted his fifth straight double-double (22nd of the season, 286th career) with 20 points (7-7 FGs, 6-8 FTs), a team-high 12 rebounds, two assists and one block in 30 minutes. It was his second 20-point, 10-rebound effort of the season (22 points and 10 rebounds vs. Minnesota 10/20).
Jordan went a perfect 7-of-7 from the floor and now has 2,999 career made field goals.
Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki appeared in his 1,477th career regular-season game, passing Karl Malone (1,476) for sole possession of fourth place on the NBA’s all-time games played list. John Stockton ranks third with 1,504. Stockton, who spent his entire 19-year career with the Jazz, is the only player to appear in more games with a single team than Nowitzki. The 7-0 forward finished with a season-best seven points to go along with one rebound, one assist and a season-high two blocks in a season-high-tying 12 minutes off the bench against the Pelicans.
Nowitzki also recorded his 900th career regular-season win, becoming the sixth player in league history to reach the milestone. Karl Malone (952) ranks fifth on the NBA’s all-time victories list ahead of Nowitzki.
J.J. Barea appeared in his 600th game with Dallas (794th overall), becoming the seventh player in franchise history to reach the milestone. Barea finished with 18 points (7-13 FGs, 4-6 3FGs), including 11 (3-3 3FGs) the fourth quarter, to go along with a season-high-tying five rebounds, seven assists and one steal in 29 minutes off the bench. The Mavericks improved to 6-1 this season when Barea scores 18-plus points.
Mavericks guard Devin Harris scored 16 points (4-7 FGs, 2-4 3FGs, 6-6 FTs), including 10 consecutive points in the fourth quarter, in 17 minutes off the bench. The Mavericks improved to 3-0 this season when Harris scores 15-plus points.
Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber made his first start of the season (36th career) and recorded 10 points, three rebounds and a career-high six blocks in 24 minutes. His previous high for blocks in a game was five (twice). He became the first Maverick to record six blocks in a game since Salah Mejri on 3/20/16 vs. Portland (6). Kleber produced his seventh double-figure scoring effort of the season.
With the win, the Mavericks improved to 14-3 (.824) at home this season.
The Mavericks tallied a season-high 13 blocks. Their previous most in a game this year was nine at Atlanta on 10/24.
Dallas went 32-of-38 (.842) from the foul line. It was the Mavericks’ 12th game with 30-plus free throw attempts this season. They only had two such games in 2017-18.
Pelicans forward Anthony Davis notched his 23rd double-double of the season (256th career) with game highs of 32 points (14-26 3FGs, 1-5 3FGs, 3-5 FTs) and 18 rebounds in 34 minutes. It was his 12th 30-point outing of the season.
Jrue Holiday (25) and Julius Randle (23) also topped 20 points for New Orleans in the loss.
Tonight marked the first game of a home-and-home series between the Mavericks and Pelicans, which will move to New Orleans on Friday (12/28).
Dallas trailed by six (21-15) with just under 5 minutes remaining in the first quarter, but closed the period on an 18-9 run and led by three (33-30) after one. Luka Dončić sparked the run for Dallas by making all three free throws after he got fouled on a 3-point attempt at the 4:58-mark of the first quarter.
The Mavericks were down nine (59-50) with under 4 minutes remaining in the second stanza, but closed the period on a 17-5 run and led by three (67-64) at the half. Luka Dončić was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 4.1 seconds left in the second quarter, and again made all three foul shots to give Dallas the lead (67-64) going into the break.
The Pelicans used an 8-0 spurt early in the third quarter to turn a four-point deficit (71-67) into a four-point advantage (75-71). New Orleans took a four-point lead (94-90) into the final stanza.
Dennis Smith Jr. remained out for Dallas with a right wrist sprain. Ray Spalding, Daryl Macon and Kostas Antetokounmpo remained on assignment with the Mavericks’ G-League affiliate, the Texas Legends. Nikola Mirotić (right ankle) and Elfrid Payton (fractured left finger) missed the game for New Orleans due to injury. Trevon Bluiett was on a G League transfer assignment for the Pelicans.
The attendance for tonight’s game was 20,340. The Mavericks have now sold out 695 consecutive regular-season home games, which is an NBA-best sellout streak. The streak began on 12/15/01 and Dallas has sold out an additional 67 playoff games during that same stretch.
The Mavericks’ next game is at New Orleans on Dec. 28 at 7:00 p.m. CT
