Mavs hang on after Doncic hurt, hand Pels 10th straight loss

Feb 2, 2023, 6:09 AM | Updated: 9:30 pm

Dallas Mavericks guard Spencer Dinwiddie (26) battles New Orleans Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. ...

Dallas Mavericks guard Spencer Dinwiddie (26) battles New Orleans Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. (22) for space during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)

(AP Photo/Brandon Wade)


              Dallas Mavericks guard Spencer Dinwiddie (26) battles New Orleans Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. (22) for space during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
            
              New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) and Dallas Mavericks guard Spencer Dinwiddie (26) reach for the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
            
              Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) attempts a three-point shot as New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III (25) and forward Herbert Jones (5) defend during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in Dallas. Doncic would leave the game shortly afterwards with a right heel contusion.  (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
            
              Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
            
              Dallas Mavericks guard Spencer Dinwiddie (26) attempts to shoot as New Orleans Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. (22) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
            
              New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green shouts instructions to his team during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
            
              Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, top right, leaves after suffering a right heel contusion during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
            
              Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic grabs his right foot after an awkward fall during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in Dallas. Doncic left the game shortly afterward with a right heel contusion. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
            
              New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) attempts to shoot as Dallas Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith (10) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
            
              Dallas Mavericks forward Dwight Powell, left, dives for the ball as New Orleans Pelicans forward Jonas Valanciunas, right, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
            
              New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) battles Dallas Mavericks forward Tim Hardaway Jr., left, for space during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
            
              New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram, right, attempts a shot as Dallas Mavericks forward Dwight Powell (7) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
            
              New Orleans Pelicans forward Jonas Valanciunas, front center, battles for position as Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77), forward Dwight Powell, back center, and forward Reggie Bullock, right, defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
            
              Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, left, looks for room against New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)

DALLAS (AP) — The Dallas Mavericks barely held on after leading by 27 points when Luka Doncic exited the game with a right heel injury on a hard fall.

The New Orleans Pelicans thought their one chance to finish the rally and end a long losing streak was taken away by the officials, who acknowledged two incorrect calls in the final seconds.

Doncic scored 31 points before leaving midway through the third quarter, and the Mavericks survived a 16-point fourth quarter without him in a 111-106 victory Thursday night, handing the travel-weary Pelicans their 10th consecutive loss.

Dallas’ lead was three points when the Mavericks were inbounding with 4.9 seconds left. Brandon Ingram tipped Josh Green’s pass and appeared to save it before his foot landed out of bounds.

C.J. McCollum grabbed the loose ball, but officials had blown the whistle. There was no review, and Dallas inbounded again with 3.4 seconds to go. No time was put back on the clock, and Spencer Dinwiddie made two free throws after a foul with 2.4 seconds as the Mavericks held on.

Crew chief Kevin Scott said the officials’ review after the game showed Ingram wasn’t out of bounds when he made contact with the ball, and that the clock incorrectly ran after the whistle.

Pelicans coach Willie Green said he wasn’t given an explanation why the call couldn’t be reviewed, and Larry Nance Jr. said players saw the same thing as officials after the game.

“The players should have decided the game, and they didn’t,” Nance said. “There were two wrongs done. The clock was wrong, and the call was wrong. I just hope we get the same calls at home. That would be lovely.”

New Orleans (26-27) dropped below .500 for the first time this season after arriving on the day of the game because wintry weather in Dallas had the team stuck in Denver since Tuesday night.

Doncic stayed in the game after taking a hard fall when he was winding up for a one-handed dunk and Ingram knocked the ball out of his hand as Doncic was bumped by Jonas Valanciunas.

Ingram was called for a foul, and New Orleans successfully challenged. Doncic returned after the break for the review, but after one trip down the court, the 23-year-old star screamed in frustration as he limped to the locker room without looking at the Dallas bench.

“We’ll see how he feels tomorrow,” coach Jason Kidd said. “I think no matter what the score was, he wasn’t coming back.”

The 27-point lead at Doncic’s exit with 6:47 remaining in the third was all the way down to four when Herbert Jones hit a layup with 58 seconds left in the game.

Ingram, who scored 26 points, missed a jumper that would have cut the deficit to two, then hit a jumper to cut the deficit to three after Reggie Bullock made one of two free throws. Dallas called a timeout to avoid a turnover in the backcourt, setting up the disputed late sequence.

“Looking at the defense, sometimes you can relax with a big lead,” Kidd said. “Understanding the Pelicans are a good team, they’re trying to break a losing streak.”

New Orleans, which finished a three-game trip, has been without All-Star Zion Williamson throughout its longest losing streak since a 13-game skid before the pandemic paused the 2019-20 season. Williamson missed his 16th game with a right hamstring strain.

Spencer Dinwiddie scored 21 points for Dallas, and Josh Green scored nine of his 15 points after Doncic exited.

Doncic had 27 points at the break, when Dallas led 70-43 and had 25 points off 13 turnovers by New Orleans, which arrived midday and tried its best to get into a game-day routine.

“Obviously, it’s been a hell of a day,” said Nance, who had 10 points and 12 rebounds. “That first half wasn’t us. I don’t need to sit here and make excuses. Obviously hope nothing’s wrong with Luka. Having him out in the second half helped just a little bit.”

TIP-INS

Pelicans: C.J. McCollum had 19 points and eight assists. … Larry Nance Jr. had 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Mavericks: F Davis Bertans exited with a left calf strain in the first half and didn’t return. … F Christian Wood (fractured left thumb) and F/C Maxi Kleber (torn right hamstring) have been cleared to practice and will make the upcoming five-game road trip. Coach Jason Kidd said Wood was the only one with a chance to play on the trip.

UP NEXT

Pelicans: A four-game homestand starts Saturday against the Lakers, with LA’s LeBron James closing in on the NBA’s career scoring record.

Mavericks: At Golden State on Saturday to start their second five-game trip in about a month. It’s Dallas’ first visit since the Warriors advanced to the NBA Finals with a Game 5 win over the Mavs in the Western Conference finals. Dallas won the first meeting this season in November.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

3 months ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

3 months ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

3 months ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

3 months ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

3 months ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

3 months ago

Mavs hang on after Doncic hurt, hand Pels 10th straight loss