Pelicans fall to Mavericks for fourth straight loss | Pelicans

A return to Smoothie King Center was not enough to get New Orleans Pelicans back on the winning track.

Big games from Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy were not enough either.

One night CJ McCollum entered the franchise record book was not enough either.

McCollum’s 3-pointer in the last seconds made him a fur’s all-time leader from deep, but it was too little too late.

After a rough road trip, Pelicans’ losing ways continued with a 137-136 loss to Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. These were the second largest points that the Pelicans have allowed this season.

Williamson ended with 29 points and proved Maverick’s head coach Jason Kidd right in what he said before the game started.

“One guy can’t be protected by a person,” Kidd said. “It will be a real test for our group.”

It was. Williamson shot 11 of 17 from the floor and got help from Trey Murphy, who knocked five 3-Pointers and finished with 32 points.

“Trey was aggressive, especially with Zion on the floor,” said Pelican’s coach Willie Green. “These guys have really good synergy. Trey has taken another step forward this season.”

It was the fourth straight loss for Pelicans (12-36), a face from which the team was last week when it won four just for the first time this season. The Pelicans fell to 1-2 this season against Mavs (26-22).

Dallas handed New Orleans its worst loss of the season in November, a 41-point down at the American Airlines Center. The Pelicans avenged the loss two weeks ago in a game that was sealed by a Murphy blocked shot in the last seconds.

This one also came down to the end. Dejointe Murray’s 3-Pointer with 15.9 seconds left closed the gorge to 136-133. Dallas’ Spencer Dinwiddie, who got his shot blocked by Murphy in the last game, shared a few free kicks. McCollum’s late trey was the last basket.

The Pelicans were surpassed 57-38. Even worse, the MAVs scored 32 Second Chance Points. Fur had only 13.

McCollum went into the recordbooks and hit a 3-pointer on the last sum to break the franchise record for 3-Pointers made. That was the 629th 3-pointer since McCollum arrived in New Orleans three years ago. He passed Jrue Holiday, who made 628 in his seven seasons in New Orleans.

“CJ is a professional at all levels of what a professional should look like,” said Pelican’s coach Willie Green before the game. “From the floor he is incredible. In the community he is incredible. With his teammates and with his staff on the floor, he is very consistent with what he puts from the time he walks in the building. … All the credit goes to him and all the work he puts in. ”

The Pelicans will try to end their sliding Friday at home against Boston Celtics.