It’s been nearly six years since Anthony Davis forced his way out of New Orleans, but if Monday night was any indication, Pelicans fans haven’t forgiven-or forgotten.
Back in the building where he once starred as a six-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection, Davis was met with a chorus of boos every time he touched the ball. And he touched it a lot.
The big man put together one of his most dominant performances of the season, pouring in a season-high 35 points and grabbing 17 rebounds. He did it with power, finesse, and a level of control that reminded everyone why he was once the face of the franchise.
But for all of Davis’ brilliance, it wasn’t enough.
The Pelicans stormed back from a fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Mavericks 119-113, sending the Smoothie King Center crowd home happy and handing Dallas its second straight late-game collapse.
Davis, now in a Mavericks uniform, was unfazed by the hostile reception.
“I don’t care,” he said postgame. “Doesn’t bother me.”
That indifference didn’t show in his play. Davis was locked in from the jump, scoring 22 of his 35 in the first half.
He and veteran guard Klay Thompson-who added 20 points, all before halftime-carried the Mavericks early. It was the best scoring half of the season for both players, and for a while, it looked like Dallas was in control.
But New Orleans didn’t go quietly.
Fueled by 20 points off 17 Mavericks turnovers, the Pelicans exploded for 40 points in the fourth quarter to flip the game. Zion Williamson, the franchise cornerstone who arrived the season after Davis’ departure, led the charge. He finished with 24 points and nine rebounds on an efficient 10-of-14 shooting night, setting the tone with his relentless drives and second-chance efforts.
This was a statement win for a Pelicans team that’s suddenly found its groove. The victory marked their fifth straight, and while their 8-22 record still leaves a lot of ground to cover, the energy and resilience they showed in the final frame were hard to ignore.
For Dallas, it’s another frustrating loss in a season that’s felt like two steps forward, one (or two) steps back. The Mavericks are now 11-19 and have dropped three of their last four.
And the most concerning part? This is the second straight game they’ve let slip away in the fourth quarter.
“We have to do a better job of being prepared and locked-in in the fourth quarter,” Davis said.
Head coach Jason Kidd echoed the sentiment.
“They attacked all night,” Kidd said. “We did a really good job after that first quarter.
In the second and third, I thought we were solid defensively. But that fourth quarter-giving up 40 points-you’re not going to win like that.”
Kidd pointed to a stretch where the Mavericks went nearly four minutes without a defensive stop. Combine that with missed opportunities and shaky free-throw shooting, and it was the perfect storm for another late-game letdown.
“We had the lead, had some turnovers, missed opportunities,” Kidd added. “They shot free throws well.
We did not. That’s something we’ve got to get better at.”
For Davis, the individual numbers-no matter how eye-popping-don’t mean much when the result is a loss.
“It means nothing,” he said. “I could have 70, and if we lose, it means nothing. I’m about wins.”
Davis still leads the NBA in 35-point, 15-rebound games since entering the league, a testament to his consistent dominance. But on this night, all that mattered was the one that got away.
There’s no time for Dallas to dwell. Nikola Jokic and the defending champion Denver Nuggets are coming to town Tuesday, closing out the Mavericks’ home slate for the calendar year. And if Dallas wants to get back on track, they’ll need more than just big numbers-they’ll need a complete game, especially when it counts most.