New Orleans rookie Jordan Hawkins showcased his scoring prowess with 25 points, joining forces with Brandon Ingram to lead the Pelicans to a convincing 131-110 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in an NBA In-Season Tournament game, effectively stopping Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Hawkins, unafraid to take shots, impressed with five 3-pointers, while Zion Williamson’s electrifying performance, including two alley-oop dunks and a stunning double-clutch, reverse, two-hand dunk, fueled the Pelicans’ redemption after a five-game skid.
Doncic struggled, scoring 16 points on 5-of-16 shooting, committing eight turnovers, and finishing with a minus-26 in 26 minutes on the court. Irving, the top scorer in their previous encounter, was limited to 17 points (6/13 field goals).
Herb Jones contributed 19 points with notable defensive plays, including a block on Doncic, as the Pelicans improved to 1-1 in West Conference Group B pool play.
The Pelicans’ balanced offensive attack, coupled with strong defensive efforts, halted the Mavericks, securing a crucial victory in the In-Season Tournament.
