Instant Reactions: Fourth-quarter drought dooms Mavericks in 119-113 loss to Pelicans

Dallas Mavericks center Anthony Davis rose for a floater and was fouled by New Orleans Pelicans big man Derick Queen as the ball left his hand.

The shot dropped, and Davis converted the free throw to complete the three-point play.

It was one of several moments in which Davis outmatched the Pelicans’ rookie center. As the Pelicans’ broadcast put it, Davis was taking the rookie “to school.”

Davis finished with 35 points and 17 rebounds, but it was not enough in the Mavericks’ 119-113 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.

The performance marked Davis’ fourth consecutive double-double.

Dallas went more than three minutes without scoring late in the fourth quarter, while New Orleans scored on seven straight possessions. The Pelicans poured in 40 points in the final period.

With the loss, the Mavericks fell to 11-19. The Pelicans (8-22) extended their winning streak to five games.

The Mavericks have now played 23 clutch games this season and are 9-14 in those contests.

Klay Thompson provided little help in the second half. He scored 20 points in the first half — his highest-scoring opening half of the season — but went 0-for-5 after halftime. Thompson finished 5-of-12 from 3-point range, nearly matching the Pelicans’ total of eight made 3s.

The Mavericks will look to bounce back Tuesday against the Denver Nuggets at the American Airlines Center.