Davis, Cousins help Pelicans stifle last-place Mavs 99-94

Posted November 03, 2017 7:00 am

By SCHUYLER DIXON

Dallas Mavericks center Salah Mejri (50), of Tunisia, goes to the floor after colliding with New Orleans Pelicans center DeMarcus Cousins (0) during the first period of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Nov. 3, 2017, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Mike Stone) The Associated Press

DALLAS (AP) - Anthony Davis had 30 points and 13 rebounds, DeMarcus Cousins added his second 20-20 game of the season and the New Orleans Pelicans started a four-game trip with a 99-94 victory over the last-place Dallas Mavericks on Friday night.

Harrison Barnes scored a season-high 26 points for the Mavericks, who are 1-9 for the first time since 1993-94. That was the second straight 1-9 start for teams that lost an average of 70 games over two seasons.

Cousins had 20 points, 22 rebounds and seven assists for the Pelicans, who were coming off two straight home losses. The 6-foot-11 center, who tied his career high with 20 defensive rebounds, had season highs of 41 points and 23 rebounds in a win at Sacramento last week.

Jrue Holliday added eight assists and a season-high eight rebounds.

The Pelicans led by 14 in the first quarter before Barnes scored 13 second-quarter points to help the Mavericks take their only lead at 31-30. New Orleans pushed the margin back to 17 in the third.

Davis, who matched his season with three blocks, was 10 of 19 from the field and Cousins 8 of 16 to offset an otherwise cold night for the Pelicans. They shot 40 percent and were 7 of 29 from 3-point range. Cousins had four of the long-range misses without making one.

The starting Dallas backcourt of Dennis Smith Jr. and Wesley Matthews went a combined 10 of 32 as the Mavericks shot 39 percent. Smith scored 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter.

Backup Dallas center Salah Mejri had 13 rebounds and five blocks.

TIP-INS

Pelicans: Davis and Cousins were a combined 9 of 10 in the first quarter, with Davis scoring 13 and Cousins 10. ... Pelicans had two shot-clock violations in a ragged third quarter in which both teams were 7 of 23 (30 percent) and combined to make four of 20 from 3 (20 percent).

Mavericks: Matthews got a technical foul in the second quarter for complaining after he was called for a foul on Davis. ... Shawn Marion, a member of Dallas' 2011 championship team, had a midcourt seat on the front row and was introduced to nice applause.

UP NEXT

Pelicans: Saturday night at Chicago in first back-to-back of season. Bulls have won six straight in series.

Mavericks: Saturday night at Minnesota in third back-to-back of season.

___

More AP on NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) is defended by Dallas Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes during the first period of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Nov. 3, 2017, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Mike Stone) The Associated Press

New Orleans Pelicans guard E'Twaun Moore, left, drives past Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41), of Germany, during the first period of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Nov. 3, 2017, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Mike Stone) The Associated Press

Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle, left, talks with Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea (5), of Puerto Rico, during the first period of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Friday, Nov. 3, 2017, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Mike Stone) The Associated Press

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