Pelicans settle for split in Dallas, fall 125-120 to Mavs on MLK Day

You knew going into Monday’s Martin Luther King matinee at Dallas that the Mavericks were going to be motivated and play hard after losing to a depleted New Orleans squad Saturday at home.

The Mavericks played harder than the Pelicans and played better down the stretch, when it mattered most, and defeated the Pelicans 125-120 Monday.

Simply put, the Mavericks outhustled and outworked the Pelicans despite being shorthanded.

Turnabout was fair play.

New Orleans was severely shorthanded Saturday in a win at Dallas.

This time around, the Pelicans had their stars on the floor but the real stars were Kyrie Irving and Tim Hardaway Jr.

Irving pumped in 42 points while Hardaway scored 41 points, dominating the Pelicans, who had no answer.

Once again, the Pelicans blew a fourth quarter lead and lost a close game, something that has plagued New Orleans throughout, keeping a good team from being a very good team.

Good teams have to win the vast majority of games when leading in the fourth quarter. The Pelicans have yet to master that and that is why Dallas, without Luka Doncic, is back tied with New Orleans in the Western Conference standings.

The Mavericks came out with a purpose, defending hard with physicality, pushing the Pelicans around and jumping on New Orleans.

CJ McCollum picked up two quick fouls and had to sit with 7:39 to play in the opening quarter.

New Orleans started ice cold, making just 2-of-14 field goal attempts, missing 10 straight shots to start the game with Brandon Ingram missing his first five shots as Dallas took a 21-7 lead.

Dallas led 33-17 after one quarter as the Pelicans made just three field goals, going 3-of-17 from the field (17%), scoring 11 points from the free throw line. The Mavericks controlled the boards by a 16-7 margin, including six offensive rebounds.

McCollum started the second quarter with the first 3-pointer of the game for New Orleans and he drove to the basket and scored again on the second possession. The Pelicans opened the second quarter on a 7-0 run.

The Pelicans went on a 24-2 run to start the second quarter to take the lead. It happened fast.

McCollum picked up his third foul with 5:22 to play in the second quarter and had to sit the rest of the half.

The Pelicans built a 4-point lead but Dallas closed the half strong to tie the game at 59-59 as New Orleans outscored the Mavericks 42-26 in the quarter.

Ingram did not score his first field goal until the final minute of the half.

Zion Williamson had 15 points while McCollum had 11 points in the half. New Orleans was 20-of-23 while Dallas made all 15 of its free throws in the half. Dallas had nine offensive rebounds to just two for New Orleans in the half.

After scoring just four points in the paint in the first quarter, the Pelicans pounded it inside, scoring 24 points in the paint.

McCollum opened the third quarter with a pair of 3-pointers.

Locked in a back-and-forth, lead-changing quarter, the Pelicans broke out with a 9-0 run to take a 90-82 lead with 3:58 to play in the third quarter.

New Orleans carried a 99-92 lead to the fourth quarter.

The Pelicans committed five team fouls in the first 1:48 of the fourth quarter, putting Dallas in the bonus the rest of the game. It would come back to haunt the Pelicans.

New Orleans led 111-104 with under six minutes to play and simply failed down the stretch.

Trey Murphy III and Williamson each missed two free throws down the stretch.

Williamson led New Orleans with 30 points but missed five of 11 free throw attempts and he had just one rebound. McCollum had 23 points, six rebounds and four assists.

Brandon Ingram had perhaps his worst offensive game of the season, making just 3-of-14 field goal attempts, two of which were driving layups, and scored just 12 points and the Pelicans were minus 19 with him on the floor.

Dallas had 13 offensive rebounds and had 17 second chance points to eight for the Pelicans.

The clear difference was from 3-point range, where Dallas outscored New Orleans 54-21.

The good news is that is was a good road trip for the Pelicans, going 3-2. It could have been a great road trip and, with stars rested and with a full deck and playing a team with Doncic, should have been a win for the Pelicans.

The learning curve continues about how to play in clutch situations and to win tough games.

Until New Orleans masters that, it will remain a nice, intriguing team but not a threat down the road.