New Orleans holds on after building a double-digit lead
Jeremiah Fears scored 16 points as the New Orleans Pelicans held off the Dallas Mavericks 101–97 at American Airlines Center on October 14. New Orleans carried a 12-point advantage into the final quarter and survived a late Dallas push in the preseason game, played on October 15 in Philippine time.
Fears made six of 11 field-goal attempts and two of three shots from beyond the arc. He also contributed five assists, three rebounds and three steals in 20 minutes and 18 seconds, helping the Pelicans generate offense while putting pressure on Dallas at the other end.
New Orleans led 24–18 after the first quarter and 56–45 at halftime. A relatively low-scoring third period ended with the Pelicans ahead 75–63. Dallas then scored 34 points in the fourth, outscoring New Orleans by eight, but the earlier deficit proved too large to erase.
Zion Williamson scored 10 points on 5-for-5 shooting in just over 18 minutes, although he missed all four free-throw attempts. Karlo Matkovic added 11 points, making three three-pointers, and Jaron Pierre supplied 10 from the bench.
John Poulakidas and Tobi Lawal each scored 16 for Dallas. Poulakidas made four three-pointers, while Lawal went 8-for-8 at the foul line. Seth Lundy added 13 points, and Sergio de Larrea finished with 10 points and six assists. Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg were inactive for rest, according to the official NBA game listing.
The Pelicans shot 45.3 percent from the field while holding Dallas to 35.7 percent. The Mavericks attempted 49 three-pointers but made only 10. New Orleans also held a 50–38 advantage in paint scoring, a 23–8 edge in fast-break points and a 27–16 advantage in points from turnovers. Those gains offset a difficult night at the free-throw line, where the Pelicans made 25 of 38 attempts and left Dallas opportunities to narrow the margin.