DALLAS (AP) – Luka Doncic returned to the lineup and scored a game-high 26 points, Klay Thompson added 19 and Kyrie Irving had 18 as the Dallas Mavericks crushed the undermanned Pelicans, 132-91, in an NBA Cup game Tuesday night (Nov. 19).
Doncic, who missed his first game of the season Sunday due to a knee injury, shot 10 of 16 overall and 3 for 8 from 3-point distance. He hit a pair of step-back 3-pointers midway through the fourth quarter, giving Dallas a 111-75 lead.
Trey Murphy III, playing his fourth game this season because of hamstring issues, scored a season-high 19 points to lead the Pelicans. New Orleans was missing five of its rotation players. Two-time All-Star Zion Williamson missed his sixth consecutive game and is out indefinitely with a hamstring injury.
The Mavericks won their third straight, finishing with their highest point total of the season and largest margin of victory.
The Pelicans have lost 11 of their last 13 games.
New Orleans rookie Yves Missi had a game-high nine rebounds, all in the first half.
The Pelicans cut Dallas’ lead to 81-65 late in the third period before Irving followed a 25-foot 3-pointer with another seconds later, pulling up from 29 feet.
The Mavericks outscored the Pelicans in the paint, 66-34, their largest margin this season. New Orleans shot less than 40 percent from the field and committed 21 turnovers to the Mavericks’ 11.
The Pelicans remain on the road Wednesday as they head to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers at 6:30 p.m.
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