Monta Ellis scored 13 of his 26 points in the final 5 minutes and the Dallas Mavericks outlasted the New Orleans Pelicans 112-107 on Wednesday night.
New Orleans had a chance to tie the game in the final 6 seconds, but Ryan Anderson's 3-point attempt bounced off the rim. Dallas' Richard Jefferson grabbed the rebound, was fouled and made both free throws to seal the win.
Dirk Nowitzki, Chandler Parsons and Devin Harris scored 20 points each for Dallas. Ellis was coming off a 2-point game at Memphis on Tuesday, his lowest output since he was a rookie in 2006.
Anthony Davis scored 31 points and added 11 rebounds before limping off the court in the fourth quarter for the Pelicans, and Jrue Holiday added a season-high 30 points and 10 assists.
Harris had only seven points until the final minute of the third quarter, and then scored 13 in a 6-minute span to help the Mavericks turn a one-point deficit to a six-point lead. Ellis took over from there.
Harris had started three games in November when starting point guard Jameer Nelson was out because of back spasms. Nelson didn't play Wednesday because of a sore right shoulder. J.J. Barea started while Harris remained in a reserve role.
Traling 25-15 after the first quarter, the Pelicans pulled to 27-23 with an 8-2 run, but 3-pointers by Dallas' Jae Crowder and Parsons bookended an 8-0 run for a 35-23 lead.
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New Orleans tied the game at 43 on Ryan Anderson's tip-in and went ahead 47-45 on a basket by Holiday. The Pelicans led 51-47 at halftime.
TIP-INS
Pelicans: Mekel, a Maverick last season, was back in Dallas as New Orleans signed him as a free agent Friday. ... The Pelicans shot 27 percent from the field (6 for 22) in the first quarter, but turned around to hit 60 percent (12 for 20) in the second. . New Orleans outrebounded Dallas 45-29. Omer Asik led with 15.
Mavericks: Dallas is 10-1 when Nowitzki scores 20 points or more. . Ellis had been a game-time decision at Memphis because of a sore elbow, and he made only 1 of 11 field goals. He was cleared to play Wednesday, entering the game with a team-high 20.3 points per game.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: Host Cleveland on Friday.
Mavericks: Host Golden State on Saturday.
