Mavericks balanced attack snaps Pelican's NBA win streak

The Dallas Mavericks had six players in double figures as they used a balanced scoring attack to snap the New Orleans Pelicans' five-game winning streak with a 102-93 victory.
Monta Ellis and Rajon Rondo combined for 39 points for the Mavericks, who ended a two-game losing skid of their own. Ellis scored 20 and Rondo tallied 19 for Dallas, which shot 48 percent from the field.
Richard Jefferson scored 16 points, Dirk Nowitzki finished with 14 points and eight rebounds, and Amar'e Stoudemire and Devin Harris scored 14 apiece in the win.
All-star centre Anthony Davis missed the game for the Pelicans who were led by Norris Cole's 19 points.
Dallas turned the ball over just seven times, forced 13 turnovers and dominated in the paint, 50-24.
Norris Cole led the Pelicans with 19 points, Eric Gordon finished with 18 and Tyreke Evans added 17 for the Pelicans, who beat the Mavs by three in New Orleans on January 25 to snap a nine-game series losing streak.
Alexis Ajinca posted the lone double-double of the night with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Dallas scored half of its points in the paint in the first quarter and led 32-31.
New Orleans answered on the perimetre, draining nine-of-17 from beyond the arc in the first half, including a Gordon triple in the final minute that gave them a 58-55 halftime lead.
Dante Cunningham scored on the opening possession of the third quarter, but the Pelicans missed their next dozen shots. Dallas engineered a 16-0 surge to take the lead for good. The run was highlighted by Jefferson's seven points.
Dallas outscored New Orleans 25-13 in the third and opened the fourth with seven of the opening nine points, with Nowitzki's three-pointer extending the lead to 87-73.
The Pelicans got as close as six points three times, but Dallas held on as another Nowitzki three pointer with two minutes left helped seal the win.
Source: AFP