Zion Williamson fueled a fourth-quarter surge, as the Mavericks faltered late, surrendering a significant lead in a crucial road loss.
NEW ORLEANS — The Dallas Mavericks had control for much of the night. They did not have it when the game was decided.
Dallas surrendered 40 fourth-quarter points and watched a late lead dissolve Sunday night in a 119-113 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, a result that underscored the Mavericks’ growing difficulty closing games during a demanding stretch of the schedule. The loss dropped the Dallas Mavericks to 11-19 overall and 3-10 on the road.
After building an 87-79 advantage through three quarters, Dallas was outscored 38-19 over the first 10:24 of the final period. The Pelicans tied the game at 98 following a 15-4 run, then seized control behind Zion Williamson’s relentless downhill pressure.
Williamson scored 24 points off the bench, including 10 straight during a decisive stretch, as New Orleans repeatedly attacked a Mavericks defense that struggled to generate stops when the pace quickened. The Pelicans shot a perfect 13-of-13 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter, while Dallas went just 5-of-8.
Williamson was not alone in carrying the load for New Orleans. Derik Queen delivered another strong interior performance, finishing with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists while shooting 7-of-12 from the field. Saddiq Bey added 19 points and seven rebounds in 35 minutes, consistently capitalizing on Dallas breakdowns during rotation possessions.
Jordan Poole chipped in 14 points off the bench, knocking down four three-pointers and helping stabilize the Pelicans’ offense during key stretches of the second half. Jeremiah Fears contributed 12 points, five rebounds and four assists as New Orleans leaned on multiple creators to sustain its fourth-quarter push.
The free-throw disparity loomed large all night. Dallas converted a season-low 11-of-21 from the line, while New Orleans finished 23-of-27. Turnovers compounded the issue, as the Mavericks committed 17 giveaways that led to 20 Pelicans points.
Despite the late collapse, Dallas put together extended stretches of high-level play early. The Mavericks responded to a 22-9 Pelicans run in the opening quarter by closing the period on an 11-2 burst, trimming the deficit to two. They carried that momentum into the second quarter, outscoring New Orleans 29-21 to take a 63-57 halftime lead.
Anthony Davis anchored that first-half surge. He scored 22 points before the break on 10-of-16 shooting, controlled the glass, and capped the half with an uncontested three-pointer. Davis finished with a season-high 35 points and 17 rebounds, recording his 10th double-double of the season in 35 minutes.
Klay Thompson provided an early spark off the bench, scoring 14 of his 20 points in the first quarter. He connected on five three-pointers in the first half as Dallas leaned heavily on his shooting to stabilize the offense after falling behind early.
Cooper Flagg added 16 points, six rebounds and six assists, extending his streak to 10 consecutive games with at least 15 points. But as New Orleans increased ball pressure and pushed the tempo late, Dallas struggled to turn defensive possessions into offense.
The Mavericks shot better than the Pelicans from three-point range overall, but their offense stalled in the fourth quarter. Dallas went 10-of-26 from the floor and 1-of-6 from deep in the final frame, unable to keep pace as New Orleans repeatedly lived at the rim and the free-throw line.
After the game, head coach Jason Kidd pointed directly to the defensive breakdowns that swung the outcome.
“We did a really good job for three quarters,” Kidd said. “But in the fourth quarter, giving up 40 points—you can’t win that way. … For about four minutes we didn’t get a defensive stop.”
Kidd also emphasized the margin at the free-throw line and the challenge of containing Williamson’s attacks.
“He comes in and he’s going to score, and he did that at a high level for them,” Kidd said. “They shot the free throw well, and we did not shoot the free throw well.”
Davis echoed that assessment, pointing to missed chances and late-game execution.
“We missed a ton of free throws tonight,” Davis said. “You can’t give up 40 points in the fourth quarter.”
He added that Williamson’s ability to attack isolation matchups late required cleaner help coverage.
“Late in the game, when they’re clearing out the whole side, we have to show some help and not give him lanes,” Davis said.
For Flagg, the breakdowns on one end made it harder for Dallas to settle into rhythm on the other.
“We weren’t getting many stops,” Flagg said. “And when we aren’t getting stops, it’s hard for us to score sometimes. We have to turn defense into offense better.”
He also credited New Orleans for successfully dictating tempo.
“They did a good job with the high-speed pace,” Flagg said. “That’s how they want to play. They want to play crazy, get up and down, all over the place.”
The loss marked the second straight game in which Dallas let a winnable contest slip in the fourth quarter, following a similar outcome in Philadelphia. With a quick turnaround ahead, the Mavericks return home to host Denver on Tuesday still searching for consistency late in games as their margin for error continues to narrow.