Luka Doncic racks up another triple-double as Mavs top Pelicans

Luka Doncic had his ninth triple-double of the season and the host Dallas Mavericks rode a dominant begin to a 127-117 victory over the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night time.

Doncic had 34 factors, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his third triple-double in his final six video games. Christian Wood scored 28 factors, Tim Hardaway Jr. had 18, Jaden Hardy 15 and Spencer Dinwiddie 12 because the Mavericks raced to a 19-point lead on the finish of the primary quarter and remained in management.

Jonas Valanciunas had 25 factors and 10 rebounds, Naji Marshall added a career-high 24 factors, Herbert Jones scored 16, Jose Alvarado 14 and Kira Lewis Jr. 12 to guide the Pelicans, who performed with out their high three scorers — Zion Williamson (hamstring), Brandon Ingram (toe) and CJ McCollum (relaxation) — who common a mixed 67.2 factors per sport.

The Pelicans trailed by as many as 23 factors within the first half, however Alvarado scored six fast factors to get them inside 14 early within the third quarter.

The Mavericks rebuilt the result in 18 earlier than Alvarado made a 3-pointer and assisted on a basket by Jones to trim the result in 78-67.

Dallas took a 97-81 lead into the fourth quarter, and New Orleans received inside six factors with 32 seconds left however did not rating once more.

The Mavericks took command because the Pelicans struggled by an ice-cold first quarter.

The Pelicans made only one subject purpose within the closing 4 minutes of the interval and missed all 11 of their 3-point makes an attempt. The Mavericks opened a 34-15 lead on the finish of the quarter as Doncic scored only one fewer level than New Orleans did.

Lewis gave the Pelicans a quick raise early within the second quarter by scoring six factors in lower than two minutes.

But they did not make their first 3-pointer till their 14th try, which Marshall made with 4:30 left within the second quarter.

New Orleans crept inside 14 factors earlier than Doncic made three free throws to offer Dallas a 63-46 halftime lead.

–Field Level Media/Reuters