DALLAS, Jan. 8 (BNA): Luka Doncic hits 34 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his ninth triple-double of the season, Christian Wood added 28 points and the Dallas Mavericks beat the New Orleans Pelicans 127-117. .
Dallas raced to a 34-15 lead after one quarter. Wood took over early, scoring nine of the Mavericks’ first 13 points. Doncic started slowly, then got his team’s final 11 points to finish the half with 14 points, the Associated Press reports.
Doncic didn’t pretend he wasn’t aware of his triple-double. “I mean, they’re right there on the board,” he said, “so I’m very aware.”
A Pelicans losing four out of five missed all nine 3-point attempts in the first quarter, when New Orleans made just 6 of 26 field goal attempts.
Tim Hardaway added 18 points for Dallas, Jaden Hardy 15 and Spencer Dinwiddie 12.
The 20-year-old Hardy has had two of his three 15-point games this season in his last two games. He averaged better than 28 points in the G League,
Hardy tied his career high with 15 points on 7-for-9 shooting. Hardy scored 15 points in consecutive games, shooting 70.6% from the field.
“He’s improved in every area,” said Mavericks coach Jason Kidd. “He’s worked so hard. He’s learning what it’s like to be a professional. You can see the product is down to earth in the sense that he’s not afraid. He’s a guy surrounded by a big star, and he just feels the right fit. That’s kind of cool.”
“That’s me just sticking to my work and my hours in the gym, and sticking to it. I do the same thing I do for my workouts. I’m not afraid of anyone, just crackling,” Hardy said. This is my whole life.”
New Orleans played without its three leading scorers, Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum.
Jonas Valanciunas scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Pelicans. Nagy Marshall scored 24 points and Herbert Jones had 16 points.
Tip-ins
Pelicans: New Orleans only had 12 players. Williamson missed his third game with a strained right hamstring. The Pelicans sat on McCollum to rest the second half back-to-back. Also not playing were Brandon Ingram (bruised toe) and Larry Nance Jr. (shoulder).
Mavericks: Doncic had his 10th technical foul of the season with 1:07 remaining in the second quarter.
next one
Pelican: In Washington, Monday night.
Mavericks: In Oklahoma City on Sunday night.