Mavericks keep Pelicans winless with 107-98 win
DALLAS (AP) — Deron Williams had 16 of his 19 points in the second half and Dirk Nowitzki scored nine of his 18 in the fourth quarter as the Dallas Mavericks kept the New Orleans Pelicans winless with a 107-98 win Saturday night.
The Mavericks won their first game at home in three tries and dropped the Pelicans, who dressed only nine players, to 0-6.
Wesley Matthews snapped a 72-all tie with two free throws to key a 7-0 run that he finished with a three-point play. Nowitzki answered a Toney Douglas 3-pointer with one of his own and then dipped underneath Dante Cunningham on a post-up move to put the Mavericks up 84-75.
Dallas built its lead to as many as 16 points in the quarter, before the Pelicans cut the deficit to 100-94 on Eric Gordon's 3-pointer with 2:04 left. But New Orleans got no closer as Williams scored the game's next six points.
Anthony Davis had 25 points for New Orleans while Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson added 21 each.