Mavericks 112, Pelicans 107
Monta Ellis scored 13 of his 26 points in the final four-plus minutes as host Dallas knocked off New Orleans.
Dirk Nowitzki, Chandler Parsons and Devin Harris each scored 20 points for the Mavericks, who shot 53 percent and had just nine turnovers. Tyson Chandler contributed nine points, six rebounds and a pair of blocked shots.
Anthony Davis led the way for the Pelicans with 31 points and 11 rebounds while Jrue Holiday had a season-high 30 points with 10 assists. Omer Asik grabbed 15 boards and Ryan Anderson scored 13 points off the bench but missed a potential tying 3-pointer in the closing seconds.
Harris hit consecutive 3-pointers to put Dallas up 92-86 with just over
seven minutes to go but it was just a three-point lead before Ellis took
over, burying a 3-pointer and scoring on a drive to make it 102-94 with
3:49 left. New Orleans got it down to two on Holiday's basket with 1:12
left and was within 108-107 on his 3-pointer with 17 seconds to go
before Ellis hit a pair at the line, Anderson missed with five ticks remaining and Richard
Jefferson hit two more free throws to seal it.
Dallas had a 25-15 lead after one quarter and went up 35-23 on Parson's 3-pointer in the second before New Orleans stormed in front and seized a four-point halftime edge. The lead exchanged hands several times during the third quarter, the last on Gal Mekel's layup with two seconds left that put the Pelicans ahead 78-77.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Mavericks G Jameer Nelson sat due to a shoulder injury. ... The teams combined to make 35-of-41 free throws. ... New Orleans had a 45-29 advantage on the boards.