By BRETT MARTEL, AP Sports Author
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Trey Murphy III scored 22 points and the short-handed Latest Orleans Pelicans overcame Luka Doncic’s latest prolific performance to beat the Dallas Mavericks 113-111 on Tuesday night.
The Pelicans entered the sport missing two of their top three scorers in Brandon Ingram (concussion protocol) and Zion Williamson (hip bruise), in addition to a 3rd starter, Herb Jones (hyperextended knee), who’s their top defensive player.
Available Pelicans responded with an all-hands-on-deck effort by which eight players reached double figures in scoring.
That included rookie and first-round pick Dyson Daniels, who scored his first profession points on a jump hook within the second quarter and finished with 11 points in 22 minutes on 4-of-5 shooting.
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Murphy hit all eight shots he took, including 4 3s. He also mixed in some baskets on the drive, including a soaring dunk within the third quarter and a tip-in with six minutes to go.
Naji Marshall scored 15 points in a spot start. CJ McCollum and Devonte Graham each scored 14 points, with McCollum also assisting on 11 baskets. Jonas Valanciunas and Jose Alvarado each scored 13 and Larry Nance Jr. also scored 11 points.
Doncic scored 37 to go together with 11 rebounds and 7 assists, but his 3-point attempt at the ultimate horn bounce off the front rim.
Spencer Dinwiddie scored 23 points for Dallas and former Pelican Christian Wood scored 23.
Dallas led by as many as six points within the fourth quarter when Wood’s 3 made it 97-91. Latest Orleans responded with a 7-0 run capped by McCollum’s step-back jumper from 16 feet to take the lead and the sport remained tight from there.
Alvarado had nine of his points in the primary 5:43 of the sport, helping the Pelicans off to a 40-point first quarter during which they led by as many as 14 points.
Alvarado’s transition layup early within the second quarter gave him 13 points in his first 11 minutes on the court — and put the Pelicans in front 47-31.
The Pelicans led by as many as 16 within the second quarter and were up 64-54 after Valanciunas’ 7-foot floater with about three minutes remaining within the half. But Dallas went on a 10-0 run to tie it on Doncic’s driving floater off the glass.
Nance’s dunk made it 66-64 at halftime.
Mavericks: Tim Hardaway Jr. sat out due to a sore right foot. “We are going to re-evaluate him tomorrow to see how he feels,” coach Jason Kidd said. … Doncic made 16 of 30 shots, but missed 11 of his 13 attempts from 3-point range. … Dallas lost to Latest Orleans for just the third time in 12 meetings.
Pelicans: Shot 57.9% (44 of 76), including 12 of 27 (44.4%) from 3-point range. … Combined for 25 assists as a team.
Mavericks: At Brooklyn on Thursday night.
Pelicans: At Phoenix on Friday night
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