Mavericks Outlast Pelicans despite Shorthanded Roster
The Dallas mavericks (31-26) overcame a shorthanded roster adn a steadfast New Orleans Pelicans team to secure a
111-103 victory at American airlines Center on Friday. Veteran forward P.J. Washington led the charge for Dallas, pouring in 24 points in the first quarter alone, setting the tone for the impressive win
“He (Washington) is a big body, can get to the rim, can shoot. Defensively, he’s amazing. Just a spark to our team that we needed.I love to have him back,” said Naji Marshall, who contributed 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Pelicans.
Washington’s hot start proved crucial as the Mavericks started sluggishly after the All-Star break. His 24 first-quarter points were his second-most in a half as a Maverick, demonstrating his commitment and ability to carry the scoring load. He finished with 24 points, seven rebounds, two steals, and a blocked shot.
The win was even more impressive considering the Mavericks were missing key big men Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, Anthony Davis and Dwight Powell, who all remained sidelined.This forced Dallas to rely heavily on Kessler Edwards and O-Max Prosper to guard Zion Williamson, who despite the aggressive defense managed to score 29 points.
kyrie Irving, who ended the game with 35 points, praised Washington’s contributions and his adaptability to filling the center role.
“He’s getting accustomed to playing that five role, four role for us,” Irving said. “Being a playmaker and stretch out the opposing centers to the three-point line, making their help a little more arduous at the rim.”
The Mavericks, guided by Irving’s second-half performance and Washington’s early offensive burst, managed to pull away from the Pelicans in the final minutes. with the victory,the Mavericks improved their record to 31-26,while the Pelicans fell to 13-43.
Dallas will now hit the road for a challenging two-game set against the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers.
What was the key to the Mavericks’ victory, and how did P.J. Washington’s performance contribute to their success?
Mavericks Outlast Pelicans despite Shorthanded Roster
The Dallas mavericks (31-26) overcame a shorthanded roster adn a steadfast New Orleans Pelicans team to secure a
111-103 victory at American airlines Center on Friday. Veteran forward P.J. Washington led the charge for Dallas, pouring in 24 points in the first quarter alone, setting the tone for the remarkable win
“He (Washington) is a big body, can get to the rim, can shoot. Defensively, he’s amazing. Just a spark to our team that we needed.I love to have him back,” said Naji Marshall, who contributed 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Pelicans.
Washington’s hot start proved crucial as the Mavericks started sluggishly after the All-Star break. His 24 first-quarter points were his second-most in a half as a maverick, demonstrating his commitment and ability to carry the scoring load. He finished with 24 points, seven rebounds, two steals, and a blocked shot.
The win was even more impressive considering the Mavericks were missing key big men Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, Anthony Davis and Dwight Powell, who all remained sidelined.This forced Dallas to rely heavily on Kessler Edwards and O-Max Prosper to guard Zion Williamson,who despite the aggressive defense managed to score 29 points.
kyrie Irving, who ended the game with 35 points, praised Washington’s contributions and his adaptability to filling the center role.
“He’s getting accustomed to playing that five role, four role for us,” Irving said. “Being a playmaker and stretch out the opposing centers to the three-point line, making their help a little more arduous at the rim.”
The Mavericks, guided by Irving’s second-half performance and Washington’s early offensive burst, managed to pull away from the Pelicans in the final minutes. with the victory,the Mavericks improved their record to 31-26,while the Pelicans fell to 13-43.
Dallas will now hit the road for a challenging two-game set against the Golden State Warriors and the Los angeles Lakers.
