Dallas Mavericks vs New Orleans Pelicans Box Score on Dec 29, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Dec 29, 2017

NEW ORLEANS -- J.J. Barea made two 3-pointers down the stretch and the Dallas Mavericks made a franchise-record 22 3-pointers to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans 128-120 Friday night at the Smoothie King Center.

The Mavericks (12-25) made 22 of 39 from long range to better their club record of 19 3-pointers and scored their most points in a game this year.

The Pelicans (18-17) got 33 points from Anthony Davis and 32 points and 20 rebounds from DeMarcus Cousins but could not stop the Mavericks' long-range barrage.

Dallas was led by Dennis Smith Jr. with 21 points, and six other Mavericks reached double figures, including Barea with 14 points.

The Mavericks led by as many as 26 points in the first half, but the Pelicans whittled that down to 17 at halftime and to eight at the end of the third quarter.

Dallas led 118-107 with seven minutes left before the Pelicans scored eight straight to move within 118-115 with 3:39 left, but Dallas outscored the Pelicans 10-5 the rest of the way.

New Orleans used a 41-32 third quarter to cut their deficit to 109-101. True Holiday led the charge with 13 points in the period in which the Pelicans shot 64 percent from the field.

The Mavericks came out red hot from long range, going 13 of 18 on 3-pointers to take a 77-60 halftime lead. Dallas hit 20 of their first 28 shots from the field.

Wesley Matthews led the way for Dallas with 18 first-half points on 4-of-5 shooting from long range, and Devin Harris added 14 points, also making 4 of 5 3-pointers. When Matthews made his fourth 3-pointer, he pulled his right hand back as if he were shooting an arrow.

The 77 points were the most scored in any half by Dallas this season.

The Pelicans stayed within striking distance only because Cousins scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the first half, and Davis added 15 points. The Mavericks bench outscored the New Orleans reserves 35-6 in the first two quarters.

NOTES: The Pelicans entered the game with the NBA's best 3-point shooting percentage (.388). "I think we've taken a lot of really good, open threes, so it doesn't surprise me a lot," said coach Alvin Gentry, "but obviously when you've got Houston and Golden State ... and they say you're the No. 1 shooting team in the league, it's a bit of a surprise..." ... Gentry said PG Rajon Rondo has such knowledge of the game he is willing to give him a lot of leeway. "We let him 'Omaha,'" Gentry said, referring to QB Peyton Manning's famous audible call. "I always tell the guys that if I call one (play) and he's got one called that we'll go with his." ... Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said the Pelicans' offense is hard to stop. "It's almost impossible to guard (Anthony) Davis or (DeMarcus) Cousins straight up, and then if you double-team them, they've got snipers out there," Carlisle said.