Kyrie Irving scores 35 points to help the Mavericks beat the Pelicans 111-103 for 3rd straight win

DALLAS (AP) — Kyrie Irving scored 35 points, P.J. Washington Jr. had 20 of his 24 points in the first half and the Dallas Mavericks beat the New Orleans Pelicans 111-103 on Friday night for their third straight victory.

Irving hit 11 of 22 shots from the floor, hitting 5 of 12 3-pointers, and all eight of his free throws.

Washington, a 6-foot-7 power forward, returned to a Dallas lineup whose three centers are all out with injuries after he missed the last three games before the All-Star break with an ankle sprain.

Zion Williamson scored 29 points for New Orleans, and Trey Murphy III had 20. The Pelicans have lost 11 of their last 12.

Pelicans: Kelly Olynyk made his Pelicans debut after missing four games following the Feb. 6 trade that brought him from Toronto. Olynyk had four points, three rebounds and three assists in 23 minutes. ... Williamson passed 5,000 career points in 203 games, third-fastest behind Luka Doncic (194 games) and LeBron James (197).

Mavericks: The winning streak is Dallas’ longest since a seven-game run Nov. 25-Dec. 7. ... Naji Marshall had 15 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

After CJ McCollum’s 25-foot 3-pointer pulled New Orleans to 103-99 with 2:53 to play, Marshall answered with a right-corner 3, and Irving sank the next basket from behind the arc with 57 seconds left for a 109-99 Dallas lead.

The Mavericks won the outside game – hitting 16 of 44 3-pointers to the Pelicans’ 8 of 27 – to negate New Orleans’ 56-36 edge in the paint.

The Pelicans will play the first of consecutive home games against San Antonio on Sunday night. The Mavericks are at Golden State on Sunday.

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