Dallas Mavericks lose to New Orleans Pelicans without Zion Williamson

The Dallas Mavericks suffered an avoidable loss at the decimated New Orleans Pelicans. After a completely sleepy start, the Texans worked their way back into the game thanks to Luka Doncic and Christian Wood, only to lose 111:113 in the end.

New Orleans Pelicans (3-1) – Dallas Mavericks (1-2) 113:111 (BOXSCORE)

Doncic was the guests’ best scorer with 37 points (16/30 FG, 2/13 three), 11 rebounds and 7 assists, but the Slovenian only played one assist after the first quarter. The Mavs’ game was correspondingly static at times. In the fourth quarter, the Pelicans almost completely took him out of the game with double teams and benefited from the fact that Spencer Dinwiddie and the other role players hardly scored anything.

Doncic once again had victory in his hands with the siren, but his stepback three-pointer was clearly too short. “I probably should have gotten a better look, but that’s okay,” said Doncic. “With only 2 seconds on the clock, it’s hard to get another layup.”

For New Orleans, on the other hand, eight players (nine used) scored in double figures, with Trey Murphy doing the best. The forward stayed perfectly out of the field (22 points, 8/8 FG, 4/4 threes, 2/2 FT). CJ McCollum (14, 6/20, 11 assists) made some important plays in the closing period. For Dallas, alongside Doncic, only Dinwiddie (24, 8/15) and Wood (23, 8/10) landed in double figures, while Maxi Kleber had 7 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks in 28 minutes.

While Dallas began with the well-known starting five, the Pelicans had to do without three starters in Zion Williamson (hip), Brandon Ingram (concussion) and Herb Jones (knee). They replaced Naji Marshall, Murphy and José Alvarado in the top five. The latter caused some problems, especially for McGee, New Orleans hit nine of the first ten throws for 21 points. After twelve minutes there were 40 (17/23 FG), on the Mavs side almost everything went through Doncic (already 14 and 6), who meanwhile did a little magic while sitting.

Luka Doncic misses Buzzerbeater for the Dallas Mavericks

However, there was a lack of defensive intensity, and New Orleans scored too easily. Meanwhile, Facundo Campazzo (3, 2 assists) made his debut with the Mavs, but he was mostly just an extra alongside Dinwiddie. No. 8 pick Dyson Daniels also made his debut for the Pels – and looked really good. He lost the ball twice against Doncic and hit all four of his throws in the first half (9 points). “They believed in me and today I got my chance,” said the rookie. “I went out and grabbed her.”

Apart from that, the game spluttered along a bit before Dallas got back to two points with a 10:2 run shortly before the break (64:66). Doncic limped a bit, but was back in the third quarter. However, the hosts continued to show greater commitment. Murphy stuffed hard and also sank some threes. Doncic was now doubled more often, which created space for Wood, which he knew how to use. The guests took a small lead of 89:87 into the final section.

But it was gone quickly, as Dallas invited the hosts back with ball losses. “We felt too comfortable and let the opposition drag us down,” said Wood.

At the same time, McCollum, who had hardly appeared before, was now also running hot. Dallas were missing the stops, only Kleber ended an 18:5 run by the Pelicans from downtown four minutes before the end. Nevertheless, the Mavs didn’t do much anymore, the jumpers didn’t fall anymore. Two legs from Doncic brought Dallas back to 1 point 4 seconds before the end. Devonte’ Graham even did the guests a favor with a missed free throw, but Doncic’s last threesome with the siren was clearly too short.