Shorthanded Pelicans Use Second-Half Surge to Defeat Luka-Less Mavs

Without Luka Doncic in the lineup, the Mavs could not defeat the highly shorthanded Pelicans with most of their starters out.

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks (23-17) and New Orleans Pelicans (24-16) faced off without two of the NBA's biggest superstars, Luka Doncic and Zion Williamson, available to play. After halftime, the Mavs lost 118-108 after being outscored by a 12-point margin after leading 54-49 at the break. 

With the Pelicans playing on the second night of a back-to-back, they rested Zion Williamson and later ruled out Brandon Ingram, C.J. McCollum, and Trey Murphy III. Even after arriving in Dallas after 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, New Orleans didn't make excuses and still managed to win with a shorthanded squad. While Doncic, Dereck Lively II, and Dante Exum remained sidelined for the Mavs, Maxi Kleber returned after being sidelined for over two months due to a toe injury.

"You have to show up every day. We were in this position against Memphis and responded in the next game," Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. "We talked about it. Give New Orleans credit. They came out and were aggressive, rebounded the ball on the offensive end at a high rate, and we couldn't compete, or our physicality wasn't there tonight."

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Irving got off to a hot start in his previous performance and ended with 44 points and 10 assists against the New York Knicks but could not convert using his jumper early versus the Pelicans. He was limited to four points, shooting 2-6 from the floor and 0-4 from the perimeter in the first quarter. It was a factor in Dallas trailing 29-20 after the first 12 minutes of action.  

Like previous matchups this season, the Pelicans started with Jonas Valanciunas guarding Derrick Jones Jr. to allow him to help early in the paint and not be put into 1-5 pick-and-rolls. Herb Jones often guarded Powell to be the one to make the switch. Irving wasn't converting early in the game with his jumper but got to the rim after using Jones as a screener to force Valancinuas into the action. 

The Mavs struggled early with rotating in the half-court after doubling Valanciunas in the post. Even with Kleber available to play, the Mavs went with a very small ball lineup midway through the period that involved Grant Willams at the five. New Orleans continued to work the ball through the post, featuring Valanciunas often. 

"[He] sets the tone right away," Pelicans coach Willie Green said of Valanciunas. "He is one of our leaders and he is a tough dude, and you see it. He wasn't going to miss this game to save his life and he went out and battled. Difficult first half for him individually but he got it together in the second half. We went to him in the post, and he really anchored our offense towards the end of the game."

As the first quarter played out, the Mavs favored playing out of handoffs — often with Jones as the big to force Valanciunas into the action. With Williams on the floor instead of Powell, Dallas could space out to maximize room for Irving to create. Jones hit a pick-and-pop 3-pointer during this stretch to help create momentum. New Orleans adjusted with Larry Nance Jr. at the five with their ultra small-ball group.

Irving's shooting struggles continued in the second quarter, resulting in Dallas trailing by double figures (31-20) at one point. A needed momentum boost came from Tim Hardaway Jr. converting on a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer, then drawing a foul on a drive after the team's defense got a stop. Seth Curry converted on a 3-pointer, followed by Hardaway finishing a drive with the help of a Gortat screen. Suddenly, the Mavs cut the deficit to one point (31-30) with 9:01 left before halftime.

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The Pelicans often played out of handoffs without their main scoring threats to give their perimeter players chances to turn the corner and get in the paint. Dallas struggled to contain at the point of attack and didn't have Lively's rim protection, with him being injured to deter or pressure finishes. New Orleans 

Using a 9-0 run, the Mavs took the lead late in the second quarter, beginning with Irving converting a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer in the corner, A.J. Lawson finishing an and-one using a Euro-step, and Hardaway splitting a pair of free throws before finishing at the rim after an offensive rebound. With Irving hitting a contested catch-and-shoot look in the corner before the end of the half, Dallas led by five at the break.

Both teams continued to play out of handoff actions frequently. Powell connected with Irving for a few open finishes on cuts quite a few times due to the superstar staying active off-ball and countering the defender trying to top-lock. Irving continued to make plays, including a jab step 3-pointer to push the Mavs up by four midway through the period. New Orleans immediately answered.

Jose Alvarado heated up from the perimeter with back-to-back makes after a layup by Jordan Hawkins, resulting in an 8-0 run for the Pelicans. New Orleans held an 81-77 lead over the Mavs with 3:12 left in the third quarter. Out of a timeout amid giving up a run, the Mavs failed to contain the Pelicans, trailing 85-77 as the run grew to be an 11-0 push. Jones finally ended the scoring drought for Dallas by attacking the paint off the catch for a floater. 

“We have some dogs, some guys who really can play, and, unfortunately, we have 15 of them," Alvarado said of Hawkins. "You can’t play 15. He’s not an average rookie. I think we have known that. I think we have been seeing it today. Opportunity meets preparation. He did it. He did what he’s supposed to do and more.”

The late third-quarter stretch was the Mavs' final chance to string together some momentum while their only available superstar was on the court before giving him rest, given he played the entire third period. Dalled trailed 88-81 as Jones had an open look to beat the buzzer but could not knock it down from the corner. New Orleans putting up a game-high 39 points in the third period proved to be a difference-making element in deciding the outcome. 

A tough, fallaway 3-pointer from Irving brought the Mavs within four points (95-91) with about eight minutes remaining in regulation. Dallas suffered after deploying a super small-ball lineup featuring Williams at the five with Valancinuas on the floor midway through the period. He fouled Valanciunas to send him to the free-throw line, resulting in a pair of makes. On the next play, after drawing a double team, the Lithuanian big man found a shooter for a wide-open look.

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The Mavs called a timeout, trailing 100-93 with 6:42 in regulation after struggling to execute with its micro-ball group. A few plays after the timeout, they subbed Powell back into the lineup to have at least one big man on the court, but the Pelicans maintained control of the momentum for the rest of the game. 

There was a continued inability for the Mavs to string together positive plays on both ends as the fourth quarter played out. Jones hit a pick-and-pop 3-pointer with Valancinuas daring him to shoot, but the defense immediately gave up a putback on the next possession. The victory-clinching play for New Orleans featured Herb Jones being unaccounted for after an offensive rebound, resulting in a wide-open finish after making a backdoor cut — pushing the Pelicans' lead to 111-100 with 2:23 left to play.

"It's the NBA. You've got to show up every day," Kidd said. We were in this position again Memphis and we responded in the next game. We talked about it — but give New Orleans credit. They came out, they were aggressive, they rebounded the ball on the offensive end at a high rate. We just couldn't compete, and our physicality wasn't there tonight."

The Mavs admitted to playing without a needed level of energy, with an emphasis on the team deploying small personnel. Kidd recommended the media ask the players about why the energy levels weren't up-to-par in the game, suggesting there is a lot the team must learn moving forward.

"You've got to ask them. I'm just the coach," Kidd said. "Tired bodies. We've got guys playing a lot of minutes. We're small. It happens. We've got to learn from it and move forward."

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A persistent problem the Mavs encountered was the inability to contain the bigger Pelicans personnel on the boards. Valancinuas accounted for five of New Orleans' 14 offensive rebounds, resulting in 24 second-chance points and a seven-point differential. Dallas was outrebounded by 17 overall. 

“We have been lacking energy, we have been lacking a little bit of effort. It’s things we just talk about and take it to the drawing board," Jones said. "You got to talk it out, and just put it to action. You can’t just keep talking. You gotta put it into action, go out there and play the game like it’s our last.”

Hawkins led the Pelicans with a career-high 34 points, with six other Pelicans scoring in double figures on the night, including Jones (15 points), Alvarado (14 points), Nance (14 points), Valanciunas (14 points), and Dyson Daniels (10 points). New Orleans effectively got into the paint and played advantage basketball against doubles.  

Outside of Irving's 33 points and the 24 points Jones and Hardaway each scored, none of the Mavs' other players hit the 10-point threshold. With an inability to get defensive stops or close possessions on the boards at nearly an effective enough rate, a less-than-stellar offensive display resulted in a loss. 

The Mavs will wrap up their seven-game homestand with another matchup against the Pelicans in part of the NBA's Martin Luther King Jr. Day slate.