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Davis, Evans help Pelicans edge Mavericks

Jan 26, 2015 - 5:53 AM New Orleans, LA (SportsNetwork.com) - Anthony Davis came up big on both ends with the game on the line, helping the New Orleans Pelicans hold off the Dallas Mavericks 109-106 to win their third straight game.

With his team trailing by one with 12.3 seconds left, Davis drew a foul on Tyson Chandler while working to get open and calmly made both free throws. Then at the other end, Davis used his massive wingspan to intercept Rajon Rondo's inbounds pass and hit two more free throws to make it 109-106.

"It's hard to lob it up over one of the longest guys in the NBA," said Mavs forward Dirk Nowitzki.

Monta Ellis, who had a terrific game in his own right, then missed a deep 3- point attempt and Davis secured the final rebound.

Davis filled the stat sheet with 28 points, 10 rebounds and five steals and Tyreke Evans gave 24 points and 12 assists in New Orleans' first three-game win streak of the season.

Ryan Anderson and Quincy Pondexter added 18 and 14 points, respectively, off the bench.

"We talked about how if we can beat a team like this it would be a big step for our program," Pelicans head coach Monty Williams said.

Ellis scored a game-high 36 points, Nowitzki netted 24 and Rondo tallied 17 points, nine assists and eight boards in the setback.

The Pelicans were the better team off the bat, with an alley-oop from Evans to Davis boosting them to an 18-8 lead just over six minutes in. But Dallas pulled back within 25-22 on Rondo's triple late in the first, and the two teams played even until a 7-0 Pelicans run late in the second quarter snapped a 42-42 tie.

New Orleans increased the spread back to 10 during the third quarter before Dallas battled back to make a game of it.

Trailing 96-88 early in the fourth, Richard Jefferson's dunk sparked a 6-0 run. Davis then split two free throws before Ellis tied the game at 97-97 with a 3-pointer.

On the Mavericks' next trip, Rondo secured an offensive rebound on an Ellis miss, then dished back to him for a reverse layup and a Dallas lead.

Eric Gordon's 3-ball three minutes later tied the game at 102-102, and Pondexter went 1-of-2 from the foul line to put New Orleans back in front by a point. Ellis and Evans then traded layups, setting up the climactic finish.

Game Notes

Anderson, who missed the Pelicans' last game with an ankle injury, went over 5,000 points for his career with a jumper late in the first quarter ... Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle is stuck on 599 career wins ... New Orleans center Omer Asik had 10 points and 11 boards.