New Orleans Pelicans: Game grades for loss to Dallas Mavericks
After a disappointing performance on their first national TV appearance of the season, the New Orleans Pelicans showed plenty of people just how fun they could be during an entertaining back and forth contest with the Dallas Mavericks. Jrue Holiday and Anthony Davis combined for 61 points on 23-42 shooting and both hit big shots down the stretch to keep New Orleans alive but ultimately Monta Ellis was just too much. Ellis scored 13 straight Dallas points in the fourth quarter to hold the Pelicans off and break New Orleans’ two game winning streak.
79. 107. 69. Final. 112
JRUE HOLIDAY. A+. For the third straight game Jrue Holiday was absolutely magnificent, especially in the second half. Holiday knocked down threes, found teammates for open looks and put pressure on the Mavs point guards. It was fun to watch and incredibly effective all night long.. PG. New Orleans Pelicans
SF/PG/SG. New Orleans Pelicans. TYREKE EVANS. C-. The home/road thing with <strong><a href=
LUKE BABBITT. D. <strong><a href=. SF. New Orleans Pelicans
A. 31 points on 20 shots is just terrific and it didn’t even feel like Davis played his best game. There were some more defensive breakdowns that hurt New Orleans as Davis either strayed too far from <strong><a href=. PF/C. New Orleans Pelicans. ANTHONY DAVIS
C+. The defense and rebounding are both very important for the Pelicans but Asik’s offense is starting to become a real issue. Yet again tonight Asik was blocked at the rim, missed in traffic and bobbled passes away to the Mavs. Teams are completely disrespecting Asik’s offense and eventually he will have to make them pay. . C. New Orleans Pelicans. OMER ASIK
C+. There were flashes but for the most part it was another rough night from <strong><a href=. PF/SF. New Orleans Pelicans. RYAN ANDERSON
B-. Rivers was fine. He knocked down a three, played ok defense, got into the lane and generally didn’t hurt things. The airballed free throw hurt though.. PG/SG. New Orleans Pelicans. AUSTIN RIVERS
B+. Yet again <strong><a href=. SF. New Orleans Pelicans. DANTE CUNNINGHAM
New Orleans Pelicans. GAL MEKEL. C+. Tonight brought both sides of <strong><a href=. PG
Other observations:
- Monty Williams drew up two terrific looks late. On one Jrue Holiday drilled a three to bring the Pelicans within one and on the second Ryan Anderson missed to seal the loss. While I would have preferred the suddenly scorching hot Holiday to take the second look as well it is hard to argue with the look the Pelicans got.
- This was a great game and the Pelicans showed a ton of fight but the fact of the matter is it was another loss against a good team. For the season, New Orleans now has just a single win over a team with a better than .500 record and that came against the Spurs in the fifth game of the season. If the Pelicans want to make the playoffs they need to start winning some of these games fast. Otherwise they will be buried early and have another meaningless March and April.
- The Mavs shot 53 percent from the field and scored 112 points which won’t help the Pelicans defensive numbers but they also hit a ton of crazy shots, in particular Monta Ellis. There are still more defensive problems than the Pelicans would and should like but things weren’t necessarily as bad as it seemed tonight. The Mavs are going to do this to a lot of people this year.