CJ McCollum scores 32, Pelicans hold off Mavericks 113-106

NEW ORLEANS(AP) — CJ McCollum scored 13 of his 32 points in the final fourminutes and the New Orleans Pelicans held off the Dallas Mavericks113-106 on Wednesday night.

McCollum’scompelling finish came after each team lost a top player. ThePelicans’ Brandon Ingram left late in the second quarter with asprained right ankle after scoring 12 points. Dallas star guardLuka Doncic left in the third with a strained left thigh afterscoring 15 points.

The Maverickswere down by as many as 19 in the third quarter and by doubledigits well into the fourth. But the Mavs suddenly surged withinstriking distance with a 12-0 run that began with Davis Bertans 3,Kyrie Irving’s 4-point play on a 3 as he was fouled, and ChristianWood’s 3-point play on a layup as he was fouled.

Irving cappedthe spurt with driving layup along the baseline that made it 97-94with 4:12 left.

That’s whenMcCollum snapped the run with two clutch baskets — a 14-footpull-up and a 3. He added two more 3s and a floating bank shot tomake it 110-103 in the final minute, and New Orleans held on fromthere.

Trey MurphyIII scored 16 for New Orleans. Herb Jones and Jaxson Hayes eachadded 14 points for the Pelicans.

Irving scored27 points and Tim Hardaway Jr added 17 points for Dallas.

Coming off afour-point victory over Utah on Tuesday night, Dallas faded quicklyafter a promising first few minutes. After hitting two of theirfirst four 3s and going up 14-6 on Powell’s alley-oop dunk ofDoncic’s lob, the Mavs missed 13 of their next 14 shots fromdeep.

By the end ofthe first quarter, the Pelicans had tied it at 24 on rookie DysonDaniels’ 3-pointer.

New Orleansthen opened the second quarter with eight straight points onMcCollum’s 3, Hayes’ alley-oop dunk and Naji Marshall’s banked 3,and went on to lead by as many as 18 before taking a 59-43 leadinto halftime.

DespiteIngram’s inability to return after the second quarter, New Orleansmaintained a comfortable lead for most of the second half.

Jones scoredeight of his points in the third quarter, when Murphy hit two 3s,and New Orleans led 90-74 after Murphy’s third 3 of the half earlyin the fourth.

TIP-INS

Mavericks:Wood finished with 15 points and Jaden Hardy 11. ... Finished 16 of46 (34.8%) from 3-point range. Doncic was assessed a technical foulin the first quarter while staring down official Natalie Sago aftermaking a driving shot on which he apparently thought he’d also beenfouled. ... Reggie Bullock missed the game with a bruised rightquadriceps, Maxi Kleber was out with a right hamstring injury andcenter JaVale McGee was sidelined by a sprained right ankle.

Pelicans: Theclub announced before tip-off that All-Star forward Zion Williamsonwill be out at least two more weeks while he recovers from a Jan. 2right hamstring injury. ... Shot 50.6% (42 of 83) overall and 48.1%(13 of 27) from deep. ... Outrebounded Dallas 49-34.

UPNEXT

Mavericks: AtMemphis on Saturday.

Pelicans:Host Oklahoma City on Saturday.