The Dallas Mavericks defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 125-107, pushing their record to 41-29 and putting them in a good position to avoid the play-in. Luka Doncic finished with 33 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, while Kristaps Porzingis returned to the lineup and had 19 points of his own. The Pelicans were missing four of their starters, forcing their backup players to carry the load.
Porzingis got the Mavericks started offensively, with scores from three, the mid-range and off a steal he created, for 12 points. By the halfway point of the first quarter, however, Jalen Brunson and Willie Cauley-Stein checked in, and the lineup gave easy baskets back to the Pelicans.