The Dallas Mavericks opened a five-game Eastern Conference road trip with a Wednesday night game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. The Mavericks held on for a 137-136 win over the Pelicans. Dallas improved to 26-22 and started a new one-game win streak. New Orleans fell to 12-36 and witnessed a three-game losing skid.
Kyrie Irving led the Mavericks with 25 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. PJ Washington Jr. followed up with 25 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists. Daniel Gafford scored 22 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists. Klay Thompson recorded 20 points, three rebounds, and one assist. Quentin Grimes tallied 17 points and one rebound. Spencer Dinwiddie had 11 points, five rebounds, and seven assists.
Dallas Mavericks-New Orleans Pelicans Recap
The Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans game was action-packed from start to finish. The Mavericks ruled out Luka Doncic with a left calf strain, Dereck Lively II with a right ankle stress fracture, Maxi Kleber with a right foot fracture, and Dwight Powell with a right hip strain. Kleber turned 33 on gameday. The Pelicans ruled out Brandon Ingram with a left ankle sprain and Herb Jones with a right shoulder strain. The Mavericks’ starting lineup featured Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie, Klay Thompson, PJ Washington Jr., and Daniel Gafford.
Irving, 32, became the 81st player in NBA history to surpass 18,000 career points during the Mavericks’ loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 115-114, on January 22, 2025. Mavericks Head Coach Jason Kidd told reporters with sheer confidence that Irving was 2,000 away from 20,000.
The first quarter saw a slow start but became a back-and-forth affair. Klay Thompson picked up where he left off with an early three-pointer, while PJ Washington Jr. did a spin move on Trey Murphy III. Zion Williamson scored eight points in the opening minutes, while Yves Missi blocked PJ Washington Jr.’s shot for a highlight-reel moment. The Mavericks came out on top for a 35-32 lead at the end of the first.
The second quarter also saw a slow start but shifted in favor of the Pelicans. Jaden Hardy showed the NBA world he was just fine, while Daniel Gafford blocked Brandon Boston’s shot. Trey Murphy III received an alley-oop pass and threw down a windmill lob as the Pelicans’ defense turned into offense. The Pelicans took a 63-57 lead to the locker room.
The third quarter saw the Mavericks use a 9-2 run to quickly get ahead. The Mavericks and Pelicans remained close, but the Pelicans’ defense slowed down. The Pelicans regained the lead, but fell short, as the Mavericks mustered a 97-93 lead through three quarters. The fourth quarter saw the Pelicans’ quick 8-3 run en route to a 103-103 tie at the midway mark, but the Mavericks’ offense took over. The Mavericks won 137-136 in regulation.
Mavericks-Pelicans Highlights
The Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans game featured multiple highlights, such as Sports Illustrated’s recent mock trade of the Mavericks receiving Draymond Green from the Golden State Warriors. Green, 34, could go to Dallas, Texas, if the Mavericks send Gafford, Kleber, two first-round picks in 2025 and 2031, and two second-round picks to the Warriors.
For the Mavericks, Mavs.com’s recent report of the Mavericks fanbase donating over 800 coats to benefit the local community’s residents in need and proving giving back is a team effort, just like the Mavericks players. This year’s Winter Warm-Up donation guests were vulnerable residents at the Austin Street Center. Mavericks Forward PJ Washington distributed the coats and served Raising Cane’s combination meals to 400 guests at the ASC.
And, for the Pelicans, Bleacher Report’s recent speculation of the Pelicans’ upcoming trade. ESPN’s Bobby Marks broke the news that the Pelicans are going to make a major trade amid questions regarding Ingram’s future in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Pelicans could alternatively deal Ingram, 27, and take back $34 million or less to dip below the tax.
Final Thoughts
Thompson put on a three-point shooting clinic in the Dallas Mavericks’ 130-108 win over the Washington Wizards at the American Airlines Center on Monday night. With the win, Dallas improved their record to 25-22 heading into a five-game road trip. With the loss, Washington had the NBA’s worst record of 6-39, entering a road game in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Thompson’s explosion from the three-point line brought back another great moment. Thompson, 34, experienced a deja vu moment early in Monday night’s game with a whopping seven three-pointers in the first quarter. On January 23, 2015, in a game against the Sacramento Kings, Thompson hit nine three-pointers in the first quarter for the most three-pointers any player has converted in one quarter in NBA history.
The Mavericks got help at the center position, with an NBA G League signee, Kylor Kelley, on a two-way contract. Kelley, 27, previously spent the season with the South Bay Lakers, averaging 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game, while shooting 63.5% from the field in nine regular-season games, along with 12.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game, while shooting 69.2% from the floor in 14 Tip-Off Tournament Games.
For Kelley, Monday night’s game was a big step to the pros after a roundabout journey through the minor league clubs. Kelley has played minor league basketball in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Portland, Maine, and Austin, Texas. Kelley has never played in an NBA game entering Monday night’s 130-108 blowout of the Washington Wizards and accumulating four points and one assist off the Mavericks’ bench the same night.
The Dallas Mavericks will take on the Detroit Pistons on Friday night in the Little Caesars Arena at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. The Pistons have the most salary cap space in the NBA and could trade for Bobby Portis Jr. to make the financial aspects work. Portis Jr., 29, could be an upgrade for the Pistons, who are making a playoff push, as a strong veteran forward for a young Pistons team.