After the Boogie Cousins injury, it seemed like the New Orleans Pelicans (36-26) were going into the tank. However, they have found that spark, winning their eighth straight on Sunday night in convincing fashion over the Dallas Mavericks (19-45).
Jrue Holiday got things started for the Pelicans after an early back and forth, getting them out to a seven point lead with 2:53 left in the first quarter.
It was all Pelicans in the second quarter, quickly getting out to a 15-point lead with 8:41 left in the break after a Nikola Mirotic three-pointer. Things went from bad to worse for the Mavericks after E’Twaun Moore completed a three-point play in the final 90 seconds of the first half to make it 63-45 at the break.
Dallas managed to make it competitive about halfway through the third quarter, getting the Pelicans lead down to ten points, but the momentum stayed solely in New Orleans hands thanks to Anthony Davis and Ian Clark’s seven points. The fourth quarter saw things get even dicier with the Mavericks bringing the lead down to four points early on.
However, the Pelicans fought back with a 15-4 run and officially slammed the door on Dallas’ hopes of an upset.
The Pelicans will return to action on Tuesday when they take on the Los Angeles Clippers (33-28) with tipoff set for 9:30 pm.
-Clint Domingue