The Dallas Mavericks dropped a close 113-111 game to the New Orleans Pelicans Tuesday night in New Orleans, despite the Pelicans missing three crucial starters.
New Orleans was without its two best players, Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, while also missing their best wing player in Herb Jones. Even without those losses, the Pelicans took it to a well-rested and relatively healthy Mavericks squad, although the Mavericks were missing Tim Hardaway Jr. with a sore foot.
Dallas dug itself into a hole early and never really recovered. The Pelicans dropped 40 points in the first quarter, forcing the Mavericks to play the rest of the game uphill.