Dallas, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Monta Ellis scored 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and the Dallas Mavericks beat the New Orleans Pelicans 112-107 on Wednesday night.
The Mavericks never trailed after Brandan Wright's dunk gave them a one-point lead in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter, but it was tight down the stretch.
Ellis helped them stay in front with several key plays, including a 3-pointer with 4 1/2 minutes remaining after Anthony Davis' dunk at the other end got the Pelicans within three.
Later, his teardrop layup over 7-footer Omer Asik extended Dallas' lead to four with 22.9 seconds left.
"Coach put the ball in my hands and my teammates have confidence in me to make plays," Ellis said of his knack for coming through in the last quarter. "I was looking to make plays and tonight I had it going in the fourth quarter."
Ryan Anderson missed a 3-pointer with five seconds remaining and a chance to tie the score for New Orleans, and Richard Jefferson sealed the win for the Mavericks with two free throws at the other end.
Dirk Nowitzki, Chandler Parsons and Devin Harris scored 20 points apiece for Dallas, which was coming off a 114-105 loss in Memphis Tuesday despite making 18 3-pointers against the Southwest Division leader.
Davis had 31 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Pelicans, who were going for what would have been a season-high three consecutive wins. Davis was limping after coming down on his right foot at the end of his one-handed alley-oop dunk down the stretch but remained in the game with what Pelicans coach Monty Williams said was a jammed toe.
"He was fine," said Williams. "He didn't want to come out and I wasn't wanting to take him out, either. I'm never going to put him in harms way. Unless I see that look in his eyes, and I've been around him long enough to know when I should take him out. He jammed his toe. He said he couldn't feel his toenail or something like that. But I think he was OK."
Jrue Holiday had 30 points and 10 assists for New Orleans, scoring 14 in the fourth quarter.
Dallas has won nine straight games between the Southwest Division rivals since New Orleans' last victory on Jan. 5, 2013.
The Mavericks led by as many as 10 points in a 25-15 first quarter but were outscored 36-22 in the second.
Game Notes
New Orleans outrebounded Dallas 45-29 ... The Mavs shot 53 percent from the floor and limited the Pelicans to 45 percent shooting ... Dallas hosts Golden State on Saturday ... New Orleans starts a three-game homestand on Friday against Cleveland.
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