NEW ORLEANS — In an intense matchup, the New Orleans Pelicans overcame the injury-stricken Dallas Mavericks with a final score of 119-116 on Wednesday night. Dejounte Murray was the standout performer, contributing 30 points to the victory. Trey Murphy III played a pivotal role in the final moments, delivering a controversial block on Spencer Dinwiddie’s layup attempt that would have given Dallas the lead with just four seconds remaining. Murphy’s block was scrutinized on video replay, appearing to potentially be a goaltend since the ball hit the glass before his intervention. However, the Mavericks, lacking timeouts, could not initiate a review. Murphy also finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds, sealing the game with key free throws just two seconds before the buzzer sounded.
Javonte Green supported the Pelicans’ effort with 13 points as New Orleans (10-32) claimed its third victory in the last four games, a significant improvement after a challenging start to the season, where they only notched five wins in their first 33 outings. On the other hand, Daniel Gafford shone brightly for the Mavericks, scoring a career-best 27 points on 12-of-13 shooting and grabbing 12 rebounds, despite the team’s struggles. The Mavericks were missing key players, including Luka Doncic, who was sidelined due to a left calf injury, and Kyrie Irving, who was out with back issues. The absence of starting center Dereck Lively (right ankle) further complicated their efforts.
The Pelicans’ injury woes continued as they were without their star player, Zion Williamson, who was rested after playing the previous night in Chicago. Jaden Hardy added 21 points for the Mavericks, while Dinwiddie contributed 20 points. Dallas (22-19) has now lost three consecutive games and has struggled overall, winning only two of their last ten matches.
A key moment in the game occurred when Green hit his second 3-pointer in the final six minutes, putting the Pelicans ahead 116-114 with just under 44 seconds remaining. Moments later, CJ McCollum, who finished with 11 points, managed to force a turnover, causing Klay Thompson to lose possession of the ball out of bounds. The Pelicans capitalized on this critical moment to maintain their lead.
One noteworthy statistic from the game was that New Orleans managed to score 24 points off of 17 Dallas turnovers, showcasing their efficiency in converting mistakes into scoring opportunities. As they look forward, the Mavericks will be hosting Oklahoma City on Friday, while New Orleans prepares to face Utah in their next two matchups.
