Pelicans beat lowly Mavericks, 99-94

Facing the NBA’s worst team, the New Orleans Pelicans did what was expected, overpowering last-place Dallas 99-94 on Friday night at American Airlines Center.

The Pelicans just didn’t do it the easy way. New Orleans (4-5) clearly had the best team on the floor, and more than once it appeared poised to blast the struggling Mavericks (1-9) out of their own building.