Former Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle used to say that you can’t win games in the first quarter, but you can lose them. That certainly was the case Wednesday night with the Mavs on the road taking on the New Orleans Pelicans.
Even without Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and Herb Jones, the Pels pounced quickly, building a 16-point lead. It left Dallas reeling and needing to claw back into the game. They did but the final effort wasn’t enough as the Mavericks lost, 113-111, in regulation.
“They played with more force,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said after the game.