Mavericks dominate the paint to snap Pelicans' 5-game win streak
The New Orleans Pelicans had an opportunity to pull into an eighth-place tie with the idle Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.
Instead, they fell a full game behind the Thunder in the chase for the Western Conference's final playoff spot thanks to a 102-93 loss in Dallas, as the Mavericks, even without Tyson Chandler and Chandler Parsons, proved too much.
Monta Ellis finished with a game-high 20 points to lead six Mavericks in double-figures, while Dirk Nowitzki battled through a tough shooting night to provide the final dagger - a 3-pointer with two minutes remaining that gave the home side a 100-89 lead.
Norris Cole led the way with 19 points off the bench for the Pelicans, who remain without Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday and Ryan Anderson.
Alexis Ajinca came off the bench to record a double-double (13 points, 12 rebounds) in only 25 minutes.
The shorthanded Pelicans, who arrived in Dallas with an unlikely five-game winning streak, were picked apart in the paint, where the Mavs outscored them 50-24.
New Orleans actually took a 58-55 lead into halftime, but a 16-0 Dallas run in the third quarter, made possible by an 0-for-12 stretch from the Pelicans, gave the Mavs the lead for good.
Dallas snapped a two-game skid with the win and remained within a half-game of the Los Angeles Clippers for fifth place in the West.