The New Orleans Pelicans continued their stunning mid-season resurgence, overcoming a fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Dallas Mavericks 119-113 on Monday night (Tuesday, December 23, Philippine time). The victory marks the Pelicans' fifth consecutive win, their longest streak since 2022.
Williamson's Fourth Quarter Takeover Seals Victory
Facing an eight-point hole entering the final period, the Pelicans mounted a massive 38-19 run over the first ten and a half minutes to seize control. With New Orleans clinging to a narrow 105-103 lead, Zion Williamson took command, scoring 10 consecutive points for his team. He scored on five of the Pelicans' next six possessions, with four of those baskets coming on powerful drives from the right side, pushing the lead to 117-106 with just 1:37 left on the clock.
Williamson finished with a team-high 24 points. The win punctuates a remarkable turnaround for a Pelicans squad that began the season with a dismal 3-22 record.
Davis Dominates in Losing Effort for Dallas
The Mavericks were powered by a season-best performance from Anthony Davis, who poured in 35 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Davis was dominant in the first half, scoring 22 points to help Dallas erase an early 11-point Pelicans lead and take a 63-57 advantage into halftime.
Veteran sharpshooter Klay Thompson provided a huge spark off the bench, drilling five three-pointers on his way to 20 points. Despite their efforts, the Mavericks' late rally fell short. After cutting the deficit to 117-113 with 18.1 seconds remaining, Trey Murphy III iced the game by calmly sinking two free throws with 10.4 seconds left.
Key Contributors and League Roundup
For the Pelicans, Derik Queen recorded a strong double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Saddiq Bey added 19 points and seven boards.
In other NBA action, the Cleveland Cavaliers snapped a three-game skid by outlasting the Charlotte Hornets 139-132. Donovan Mitchell led the way with 30 points, supported by De'Andre Hunter's 27 points. Hunter stayed in the game after a flagrant foul from Charlotte's Moussa Diabate that left him bloodied, immediately impacting the game with free throws and a three-pointer.
Other notable results included:
- Boston Celtics defeating the Indiana Pacers 103-95.
- Denver Nuggets routing the Utah Jazz 135-112.
- Oklahoma City Thunder beating the Memphis Grizzlies 119-103.
- Golden State Warriors rolling past the Orlando Magic 120-97.
- Detroit Pistons winning 110-102 at the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Pelicans' winning streak has injected new life into their season, transforming them from early-season strugglers into one of the league's hottest teams as the calendar year draws to a close.
