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Mavs shoot for home-and-home sweep of Pelicans

Jan 11, 2014 - 3:22 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Dallas Mavericks go for a home-and-home sweep of the New Orleans Pelicans when the two clubs clash Saturday night at American Airlines Center.

The Mavericks took Friday's matchup from the Pelicans, 107-90, thanks to a team-high 24 points from Dirk Nowitzki. Monta Ellis scored 23 points and Vince Carter netted 14 for Dallas, which has won two of three games and led by a 74-51 score in the third quarter.

"We did a great job. We have been really inconsistent with that this year, but tonight I think it was extremely important on the road. Hopefully we can duplicate it again tomorrow," said Carter.

Dallas led by double digits the entire second half and scored 25 points off 18 New Orleans turnovers. The Mavs made 52.6 percent of their shots and sank a season-high 14-of-28 3-pointers. They have shot 50 percent or better three times in the last five games.

The Mavs hope forward Shawn Marion can shake off a shoulder issue and compete Saturday versus the Pelicans. Marion has missed two straight games.

Dallas is 12-6 at home and will also host Orlando.

Meanwhile, the Pelicans are mired in a four-game losing streak and were led by Eric Gordon's 27 points on Friday night. Anthony Davis chipped in 21 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks, while Austin Rivers scored 12 points.

"They got whatever they wanted on the offensive end. Dirk, Monta, Vince, (Jose) Calderon, all of those guys could just do whatever they wanted on any play, as if they were just going through a script," said Rivers.

The Pelicans shot 45 percent for the game and lost forward Tyreke Evans to a sore ankle. Evans is questionable Saturday.

Prior to Friday's game, it was learned New Orleans guard Jrue Holiday will miss some time with a stress fracture in his right tibia.

The Pelicans are 6-13 away from the Big Easy this season and have lost five straight and eight of the last 10 matchups with Dallas. New Orleans hasn't played too well in Big D recently, losing seven of eight and 20 of its last 22 visits there.