The Mavericks reversed course and sent the Pelicans to the bottom of the Western Conference with an 8-game losing streak. Flagg had a career-high 29+7+5 and Zion scored 22 points.

On November 22, the Mavericks played against the Pelicans at home in the NBA Cup. Flagg returned after missing one game due to illness to face the No. 1 pick Zion. The Pelicans suppressed the Mavericks and gradually gained a 15-point lead. The Mavericks, led by Flagg, Washington and Christie, continued to counterattack and gradually overtook the score in the final quarter. In the final stage, Zion and Flagg fought, Marshall hit a go-ahead three-pointer, and the Pelicans lost three consecutive points to equalize. A conflict broke out between Fells and Washington. In the end, the Mavericks defeated the Pelicans 118-115 to end their two-game losing streak. The Pelicans suffered an eight-game losing streak and ranked last in the Western Conference. Quinn, the 13th pick of the Pelicans, set a career high with 11 assists and became the fourth center in history under the age of 21 to have 10+ assists in a single game. The top three are Webber, Shin Kyung and Bunyama.

Statistics

Mavericks: Flagg returned with 29 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals, setting a career single-game scoring record. Washington scored 5 three-pointers, 24 points and 9 rebounds, Christie scored 5 three-pointers and 23 points, Williams had 5 points, 5 rebounds, 12 assists and 2 blocks, and Hardy scored 3 three-pointers and 11 points.

Pelicans: Murphy had 25 points, Zion had 22 points, Quinn had 20 points, 7 rebounds and 11 assists, Fells had 3 three-pointers, 21 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals.

Game Review

The Mavericks have lost the past two games in a row to the Timberwolves and the Knicks, and the Pelicans have suffered 7 consecutive losses in the past 7 games and are at the bottom of the Western Conference. In their first meeting this season, the Mavericks lost 99-101 at home to the Pelicans. The Mavericks were missing Irving, Big Eyebrow, Russell, Exum and Nembhard, and the Pelicans were missing Poole, Murray and Matkovic. Flagg came back. The Pelicans fell behind 4-5 at the beginning of the first quarter. The Pelicans scored two consecutive three-pointers to overtake the score. The Mavericks rushed inside and caught up with only 2 points. Quinn sent out consecutive assists, and the Pelicans expanded their lead to 23-14. The Mavericks used an 11-5 offensive to catch up to only 3 points. The Pelicans scored 6 points in a row. At the end of the first quarter, the Pelicans led the Mavericks 34-25 by 9 points. The Pelicans made 14 of 25 and 5 of 9 three-pointers, both of which exceeded the 50% mark. Murphy scored 10 points and Fells had 11 points. Clay scored 0 points in 0 of 3 shots.

In the second quarter, the Pelicans took the lead to expand their 45-33 lead to 12 points. The Mavericks chased for 5 points in a row. The Pelicans responded with an 8-0 offensive and expanded their 53-38 lead to 15 points. The Mavericks played an 11-3 offensive to catch up to only 7 points, and the Pelicans continued to play a 7-0 offensive to open the score. The Pelicans won 29-24 by 5 points in a single quarter. At the end of the first half, the Pelicans led the Mavericks 63-49 by 14 points. In the first two quarters of the game, Murphy had 15 points and Fells had 3 three-pointers and 13 points. Washington had 3 three-pointers and 14 points and Hardy had 3 three-pointers and 11 points.

Back from the intermission, the Mavericks continued to counterattack to catch up to the single-digit gap, and Fells maintained a 72-63 lead in the mid-range shot. The Mavericks used a 7-0 offensive to catch up with only 2 points. Quinn scored a layup, and the Mavericks used an 8-0 offensive to lead by 4 points. The two sides then continued to tie in a tug-of-war. The Pelicans lost 22-36 by 14 points in a single quarter, and the two sides maintained 85-85 at the end of the three quarters. In the first three quarters of the game, four players from both sides scored in double figures. The Pelicans made 7-14 three-pointers, only half the Mavericks. Murphy scored 22 points, Flagg 17 points and Washington 19+7.

In the final quarter of the game, the two sides fought to 94-94 in the first 3 minutes. The Mavericks scored 4 consecutive points to take the lead, and the Pelicans scored 5 consecutive points to regain the lead. The two sides continued to cling to the score in a tug-of-war, and the two sides fought to a draw at 108-108. Jones broke through for a layup, causing Flagg to interfere with the ball. Flagg immediately responded with 2+1 to lead by 1 point. Zion also completed 2+1 to regain the lead. Zion continued to steal and draw fouls and made two free throws. He had scored 5 points in a row to expand his 4-point advantage. Flagg broke through and hit the board, Zion missed the shot, Marshall went ahead by 1 point with three points, and Washington blocked Fells. Christie was fouled and made two free throws to expand the 3-point advantage. The Pelicans missed consecutive three-pointers to equalize. Fels clashed with Washington. In the end, the Pelicans lost to the Mavericks.

Starting lineup for both sides

Mavericks: Flagg, Washington, Gafford, Christie, Williams

Pelicans: Murphy, Zion, Quinn, Jones, Fells