“It means nothing," Anthony Davis said. "I could have [scored] 70 and if we lose, it means nothing. I’m about wins."
It's been nearly six years since his trade, but fans of the New Orleans Pelicans have not forgotten about Anthony Davis, who disgruntledly forced his way out out of the organization that drafted him first overall.
With the Pelicans from 2012-2019, "A.D." made six All-Star and three All-NBA teams by averaging over 23 points, 10 rebounds and nearly 2.5 blocks a night - asserting himself as a two-way superstar almost immediately.
Then, he requested a trade after his relationship with the team spoiled. Controversy arose as it was speculated that he began holding himself out of games in hopes that he would be dealt away. He ultimately landed with the Los Angeles Lakers, helping them win the 2020 NBA Finals in the bubble in his first season teamed-up with LeBron James.
Now, as Davis' Dallas Mavericks met with the Southwest division rivals at Smoothie King Center on Monday night, Pelicans fans made sure to remind Davis of the stain he left in the Bayou. Choruses of boos rained down every time the All-Star big man touched the ball.
He touched it a lot - and was dominant amid the noise - but ultimately the home faithful went home happy as the Pelicans came back in the fourth quarter to top the Mavs 119-113.
About this reception?
"I don't care," Davis said postgame. "Doesn't bother me."
Davis torched his former team for a season-high 35 points to go with 17 rebounds. Twenty two of his points came in the first half, along with veteran guard Klay Thompson pouring in all 20 of his points in the first two quarters. It was the most points either player has scored in a half this season.
The Pelicans, however, stuck around to claw their way back in the fourth quarter with 40 points in the period, using 20 total points off of 17 Mavericks turnovers to fuel the comeback. Zion Williamson - the Pelicans' latest first-overall pick from the season after Davis was traded - powered New Orleans in the final period, ending with 24 points and nine rebounds on 10-of-14 shooting.
Davis has the most 35-point 15-rebound games since he entered the league, but no matter how dominant he was in this one, the frustrating result is what he will remember most.
“It means nothing," Davis said. "I could have 70 and if we lose, it means nothing. I’m about wins."
Adding to the frustration, this is Dallas' second straight game where they had control in the fourth quarter, only to squander the lead late and lose. New Orleans (8-22) completed the comeback for their fifth win in a row while Dallas fell to 11-19 after losing their third game in the last four.
"We have to do a better job of being prepared and [getting] locked-in in the fourth quarter," Davis noted.
"They attacked all night," said head coach Jason Kidd. "We did a really good job I thought after that first quarter, in the second and third we did a really good job defensively. But that fourth quarter, to give up 40 points, you can’t win.
"We had the lead, had some turnovers, missed opportunities. I think for four minutes, we didn’t get a defensive stop. And so it’s tough. That being said, we still had opportunities. They shot free throws well. We did not shoot the free throw well. That’s something we got to get better at."
Davis and the Mavs won't have much time to dwell on the performance with perennial MVP candidate Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets coming to town Tuesday for the final game inside American Airlines Center for the calendar year.