P.J. Washington’s Clutch Shooting Lifts Mavericks Past Pelicans in Thrilling Victory: “We Should Have Won Last Time”

The Dallas Mavericks (26-22) secured a thrilling 137-136 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans (26-21) at the Smoothie King Center, avenging their previous controversial loss in New Orleans. P.J. Washington led the way with 25 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, hitting four clutch three-pointers in the fourth quarter to help Dallas close out a back-and-forth battle.

Just two weeks ago, the Mavericks fell 119-116 to the Pelicans in the same building, a game that ended with a missed goaltending call on Trey Murphy III’s block of Spencer Dinwiddie’s potential game-winning layup. Dallas executed in crunch time this time despite a buzzer-beating three by C.J. McCollum that cut the final margin to just one.

“We wanted to come down here and get a win,” Washington said. “We felt like we should have won last time but let the game get away from us. It didn’t happen this time.”

Kyrie Irving matched Washington with 25 points, adding nine rebounds and six assists, while Daniel Gafford posted 22 points, 12 rebounds, and five blocks, continuing his dominant interior impact. Klay Thompson added 20 points, shooting 6 of 11 from deep, while Quentin Grimes added 17 points, with nine points in the third quarter. Dinwiddie added 11 points and dished out seven assists. There was no shortage of impressive performances as Dallas had a second straight performance with 30 or more assists while making 20 threes, even adding 16 offensive boards.

“It does a lot for the synergy and energy of the team,” Irving said about Dallas’ unselfish offense. “Guys making shots alleviates a lot of pressure. I’m confident in my ability to make tough shots, but when you see that ball swing and we get an open look, it’s great. It takes off a bit of pressure for all of us, settles us down.”

Despite missing Luka Dončić for the 18th straight game (left calf strain), the Mavericks found their offensive rhythm in the second half, scoring 80 points while shooting 66% from the field to secure a much-needed win. Dallas was also without Dereck Lively II (right ankle stress fracture), Maxi Kleber (right foot fracture), Dwight Powell (right hip strain), and Danté Exum (right wrist surgery), who remains sidelined but could return later in the road trip. Naji Marshall, who had missed four games due to illness, returned under a 15-minute restriction—adding five points and two assists.

Despite the loss, Murphy and Zion Williamson delivered standout performances for the Pelicans. Murphy erupted for a game-high 32 points, showcasing his shooting range with multiple deep threes, including a late 30-footer that kept New Orleans in striking distance. Williamson was relentless in the paint, finishing with 29 points on efficient shooting in just 28 minutes.

McCollum also made a significant impact with 23 points, passing Jrue Holiday as the Pelicans’ all-time leader in three-pointers made (629) with a buzzer-beating triple that trimmed the final margin to one. Dejounte Murray added 27 points and six assists, while Brandon Boston Jr. (12 points) and Jose Alvarado (11 points) scored in double figures off the bench.

Dallas Mavericks Adjust to New Orleans Pelicans’ Relentless Paint Pressure

The Pelicans said they would impose their will in the paint from the opening tip, relentlessly attacking the interior through Williamson’s forceful drives. Whether Gafford was in position as a rim protector or not, Williamson powered through contact, absorbed bumps, and displayed impressive body control to evade shot-blocking attempts mid-air. His presence immediately put Dallas in a bind, forcing early rotations and opening up secondary scoring options for New Orleans.

The Pelicans built a 13-9 lead, capitalizing on their physicality inside. However, Thompson responded quickly, providing a sharp perimeter counterpunch. He found an early rhythm, sinking multiple catch-and-shoot threes to spark Dallas’ outside attack and prevent New Orleans from packing the paint.

“We’re making an emphasis to get Klay involved and to keep him involved throughout the game,” Irving said. “We value his minutes and call his number when we need an emergency button. Even when he’s not shooting well, he does great things for us and we rely on him as an anchor on defense.”

Dinwiddie controlled the tempo early, orchestrating the offense with plenty of assists in the opening minutes. Irving focused on leveraging his gravity, setting off-ball screens to open up space for teammates rather than attacking aggressively. However, Kidd went small after a timeout, shifting Washington to center while Kessler Edwards, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, and Grimes manned the wing spots. The move paid off immediately, as the Mavericks surged ahead 24-22 behind high-energy plays. Edwards capitalized on a second-chance opportunity, hammering home a putback dunk. Prosper then jumped a passing lane for a steal and slammed home a fastbreak dunk, electrifying the Dallas bench.

“It’s been great, instrumental for our team’s success. I want them to continue to develop those good habits that we’ll need in the future,” Irving said about players stepping into larger roles. “Accepting the reality of where we are as a team with outstanding injuries means we need everybody to step up. Our young guys are getting valuable minutes in high-intensity games. It’s beautiful to watch them grow and develop the keen sense that you need for the game.”

Irving found his scoring groove as the quarter progressed, attacking Jose Alvarado in the post for a controlled face-up jumper. Shortly after, he stepped into a pull-up three, punishing the Pelicans for going under the screen. His confidence grew, and he reached double figures in the opening period, spinning baseline against Alvarado before finishing through contact for a strong and-one.

New Orleans leaned heavily on Murphy for offensive production, as he already had 11 points by the end of the first quarter. However, Irving’s playmaking kept Dallas ahead, creating a clean catch-and-shoot three for Marshall by drawing extra defensive attention. Alvarado answered with a tough step-back three, but the Mavericks held a 35-32 edge at the end of the first quarter.

New Orleans Pelicans Surge as Dallas Mavericks Struggle With Turnovers

The Mavericks opened the second quarter with Marshall keeping the offense in rhythm, knocking down a smooth floater over a contesting defender. However, Jose Alvarado quickly responded, calmly stepping into a deep, off-the-dribble three to regain momentum for New Orleans.

The shift came when Williamson re-entered the game. On his first possession back, he bullied his way through Gafford, absorbing contact and finishing an and-one layup efficiently. Even with Gafford positioned inside, Williamson’s blend of power and finesse allowed him to finish mid-air while evading rim protection. After missing the free throw, the game was tied at 37-37.

“Zion is a wonderful player, a hell of a player,” Washington said. “He can get downhill versus anybody. He’s very good at getting his angles and creating space, and obviously, he’s one of the most athletic people you’ll ever see. He’s just a tough cover, and his game speaks for itself for sure.”

Dallas struggled to secure clean offensive possessions, particularly as Hardy and Washington were forced into secondary ball-handling roles. Irving was blitzed aggressively off screens and forced into rushed passes, leading to a few broken possessions. Even Washington lost control of the ball while trying to post up Williamson, resulting in another empty trip for the Mavericks.

“We can’t turn the ball over like that,” Washington said. “Trying to get out and transition a lot more, and I think the fouls are a big reason why our turnovers were where they were. Just those three things we can get a lot better at.”

On the defensive end, Gafford provided a brief spark, elevating to swat away Alvarado’s dunk attempt, igniting the Dallas bench. However, the Mavericks failed to convert on the other end, allowing New Orleans to maintain control.

The Pelicans capitalized on Dallas’ ball security issues, forcing turnovers and converting them into transition buckets. Murphy attacked in the open floor, finishing an uncontested fastbreak dunk after a Dallas giveaway. Moments later, McCollum connected with Murphy on another transition lob, further extending the lead. By halftime, New Orleans had built a 63-57 advantage, dominating transition and punishing Dallas’ turnovers.

“Our shot selection and turnovers put us in harm’s way with some bad shots leading to them getting easy threes or turnovers,” Kidd said. “We talked about eliminating bad shots and taking our time offensively to get better ones. I thought the group did that in the second half, scoring 80 points.”

Dallas Mavericks Gain Momentum Behind Daniel Gafford, Kyrie Irving

Coming out of halftime, the Pelicans struggled with their offensive flow as their spacing grew tight, making it easier for Dallas to clog the paint. Irving took advantage of the slow start, smoothly knocking down a pull-up jumper in transition to trim the deficit. Gafford stepped up in the paint on the next defensive stand, cutting off Missi’s angle to the rim without fouling.

After securing the defensive board, Gafford sprinted the floor hard, sealing his man and finishing a drop-off pass for an easy layup—forcing New Orleans to call timeout with their lead down to four, 65-61.

“Gaff’s a beast. I’m proud of him and super glad he’s on my team,” Washington said. “He’s making my job a lot easier. He’s gotten way better, and I’m just super excited for him. He’s killing people in the post, blocking shots, rebounding, and just playing at a league level. We need that from him, and I’m glad he’s playing the way he is.”

Murphy remained aggressive, slashing inside for a strong finish, but Irving answered immediately with a pull-up three off the dribble to bring Dallas within a single possession, 67-64. The Pelicans continued to attack inside, with Williamson forcing constant contact on drives. However, Dinwiddie capitalized on Irving’s drawing multiple defenders, relocating to the left wing.

Irving found him with a spray-out pass for a go-ahead three. Dallas took a 74-73 lead, its first advantage since early in the second quarter.

“It does a lot for the synergy and energy of the team,” Irving said about Dallas’ ball movement. “Guys making shots alleviates a lot of pressure. I’m confident in my ability to make tough shots, but when you see that ball swing and we get an open look, it’s great. It takes off a bit of pressure for all of us, settles us down, and keeps the defense guessing.”

With Williamson controlling the interior, he continued drawing fouls, forcing Gafford into foul trouble. Within two minutes, Gafford picked up two fouls, causing Kidd to sub him out midway through the third quarter. With Dallas needing a spark, Grimes took over. He attacked a closeout, stepping into a controlled pull-up jumper, then moments later, jumped a passing lane for a steal and raced downcourt for a reverse layup in transition—putting Dallas ahead 92-91 late in the third.

Dinwiddie continued the Mavericks’ surge, using a sharp crossover to break free from Theis, then absorbed contact at the rim for an and-one finish. However, Williamson responded immediately, overpowering his way inside for a tough layup while nearly bottling up Dinwiddie on the next defensive stand.

Dinwiddie faked a short-range jumper as the quarter closed, forcing Williamson to bite on a shot fake. This freed up a floater that gave Dallas a 97-93 lead entering the fourth quarter.

P.J. Washington’s Heroics Seal the Win

The Mavericks entered the final frame leading 97-93, but the Pelicans quickly reversed the momentum with an aggressive stretch. Murphy opened the quarter by burying a deep three. Washington committed a bad pass turnover on the following possession, which led to Boston’s transition dunk. This gave New Orleans a 98-97 lead—its first since the first half. Dinwiddie turned it over again, leading to another transition opportunity for the Pelicans.

Alvarado drilled a go-ahead three from the corner, capping an 8-0 run to push New Orleans ahead 101-100 with 10:28 left. Kidd immediately called a timeout, and the Mavericks found their answer out of the break.

Thompson freed himself against a fly-by, sidestepping for a three-pointer from the corner, putting Dallas back on top 103-101. Boston responded with a mid-range jumper to tie the game, but Washington quickly attacked the lane, drawing the defense before finding Gafford in the dunker spot for a high-point catch and a foul-drawing finish. Gafford converted the free throw, giving Dallas a three-point edge.

Williamson remained relentless, muscling his way through Washington for a layup to cut it to one. But Washington answered immediately with a catch-and-shoot three from the wing, extending the Mavericks’ lead to 109-105. After a defensive stop, Dallas executed another sharp possession, running Thompson off a middle pindown for a three, stretching the lead to 112-105 with 8:10 remaining. New Orleans burned a timeout, but Dallas continued to dictate the pace.

“P.J., I thought did a great job. I thought the game slowed down for him,” Kidd explained. “I thought he was just in a hurry there early on. But again, two assists away from a triple-double. He’s filling up the stat sheet. He’s doing it all. Being able to rebound, pass, score. I thought his catch and shoot when Kai and him were playing the pick and roll, his ability when they had the five on him to be able to just to catch and shoot really helped us take control of the game.”

Gafford snatched a rebound after an Alvarado miss, and after Thompson recovered his own missed jumper, he found Washington for another clean three from the left wing. Washington held his follow-through as New Orleans took another timeout, with Dallas up 115-105 with 7:55 left.

“I’m just trying to make the right play, whether I have a hot hand or not,” Washington said. “I trust those guys to make shots. Klay and Q are some of the best shooters on our team, so finding those guys at any part of the game is good for us.”

New Orleans clawed back behind Murphy, who scored on a layup, then followed with a dunk after attacking a closeout, trimming the Mavericks’ lead to six. The crowd got back into it, but Gafford calmly settled things, getting Missi to bite on a pump fake before finishing an and-one in the paint. With under four minutes left, Williamson collapsed the defense on a drive before kicking it out to McCollum in the left corner. McCollum sidestepped his defender and knocked down a clutch three-pointer, cutting the Mavericks’ lead to 117-112.

On the next possession, the Mavericks ran a high ball screen for Irving, but New Orleans blitzed him aggressively, forcing him to pass out of it. Washington received the ball and got into a second-side DHO with Thompson, who briefly lost his dribble but recovered before feeding Washington for a catch-and-shoot three. Washington stepped into the shot confidently and drilled it, extending the lead to eight.

The Pelicans responded quickly, with Williamson attacking off the dribble, absorbing contact, and powering through Washington for a layup. The Mavericks didn’t send a double, and Williamson’s brute force made it a six-point game with just over three minutes remaining. On the other end, Irving took control. He got to his preferred mid-range spot. With McCollum later switched onto him, Irving created separation with a step-back jumper and knocked it down cleanly, giving Dallas a 122-114 cushion with under three minutes left.

Irving then created a key bucket, hitting a short-range step-back jumper to extend the lead to 122-113. New Orleans continued applying pressure, and with 1:20 left, Williamson attacked the rim, colliding with Gafford, who grabbed his shoulder mid-air, causing the ball to slip out. The Pelicans successfully challenged the call, and Williamson converted both free throws, cutting it to six.

With Washington in at center, Irving immediately found him for a catch-and-shoot three, stretching the lead to 128-119. Williamson blocked Irving’s finger roll but missed a finish on the other end. Irving used a screen from Grimes to get McCollum switched onto him, but Washington got the ball and went into a second-side dribble handoff (DHO) with Thompson, which should have iced the game. Dallas was up 131-121 after Thompson sank the shot.

Murphy drilled a three after Murray found him with the pass. Irving split a pair of free throws, but Murphy went to the line and made both of his. At this point, New Orleans was down by six. Thompson turned it over with a bad pass that went out-of-bounds, leading to Williamson connecting with Murray for a three. Suddenly, it was a single-possession game (136-133) with 15.2 seconds left to play.

Dinwiddie drew a foul on Javonte Green to get to the free-throw line. Needing to make at least one to make it a two-possession game, Dinwiddie split both attempts. McCollum made a late three to beat the buzzer, but it wasn’t enough.

Looking Ahead

With this victory, Dallas takes a 2-1 lead in the season series, setting up a final meeting on Feb. 21 in Dallas that could have significant playoff implications in the Western Conference standings.

The Mavericks now focus on the Detroit Pistons on Friday, the second stop on their five-game road trip. Dallas will look to build on its offensive rhythm and maintain momentum as it faces a rebuilding Pistons team.