Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket against Josh Hart #3 of the New Orleans Pelicans in the first half at American Airlines Center on Nov. 8, 2021 in Dallas, Texas.
Luka Doncic scored 25 points, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jalen Brunson added 17 apiece and the Dallas Mavericks overcame a sluggish start for a 108-92 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night.
Still without Zion Williamson because of a broken right foot, the Pelicans went up 11 in the first quarter but didn't lead again after the first few minutes of the second quarter in a seventh consecutive loss that dropped them to 1-10.
With Doncic watching to start the fourth, Brunson and Hardaway led a 12-0 run that gave the Mavericks a 93-71 lead. Hardaway was 4 of 5 on 3-pointers as the Mavericks shot better than 50% for a second straight game after starting 2 of 12.
Kristaps Porzingis picked up three fouls in just 77 seconds in the second quarter after hitting consecutive 3-pointers late in the first to start a 22-4 run for a 38-31 Dallas lead.
Get top local stories in DFW delivered to you every morning. >Sign up for NBC DFW's News Headlines newsletter.
The 7-foot-3 Latvian left with nine points and didn't score again until a late 3 that helped turn away a New Orleans surge after the game appeared out of reach. Porzingis had 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting and eight rebounds.
Jonas Valanciunas had 22 points and 11 rebounds and Josh Hart scored a season-high 22 for the Pelicans, who were coming off a 41-point loss to Golden State. New Orleans lost by double figures each time on a four-game trip that matched its longest of the season.
TIP-INS
Pelicans: Besides Williamson, the Pelicans were without Brandon Ingram and Herbert Jones. Ingram missed his fifth consecutive game with a right hip contusion. Jones was out for a third in a row with left ankle soreness. … Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 18 points but was just 2 of 11 from 3. … Devonte Graham had a season-high 10 assists.
Sports Connection
Connecting you to your favorite North Texas sports teams as well as sports news around the globe.
Mavericks: F Maxi Kleber missed his fourth straight game with a left oblique muscle strain. … Reggie Bullock scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting. … Brunson had six assists to five for Doncic.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: Oklahoma City visits Wednesday. The road team has won the past five games in the series.
Mavericks: At Chicago on Wednesday to start a stretch of six out of seven games on the road. The Bulls have a three-game winning streak against the Mavs.
