The New Orleans Pelicans haven’t enjoyed much success this season, but one of their two victories came against the Mavericks in Dallas.
The Pelicans will be back in “Big D” on Friday night for a rematch against the Mavericks as the teams square off in NBA Cup West Group B play.
New Orleans and Dallas are both 0-2 in the five-team group that also features the Los Angeles Lakers (2-0), Los Angeles Clippers (2-0) and Memphis Grizzlies (1-1).
Since their 101-99 win in Dallas on Nov. 5, the Pelicans dropped seven straight games to construct the worst record (2-13) in the Western Conference.
New Orleans capped a winless five-game homestand with a 125-118 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday despite rookie Derik Queen holding his own against three-time MVP Nikola Jokic. Queen scored a season-best 30 points on 12-of-18 shooting and collected nine rebounds.
The 20-year-old Queen was the No. 13 overall pick out of Maryland in June’s draft.
“I’m still learning how to even utilize this kid,” Pelicans interim coach James Borrego said Thursday. “We’re just getting more and more familiar with him. Every rep he gets in a game, he’s only learning and growing. He’s seeing things on the fly. He’s got a high IQ, which is a tremendous skill to have.”
Queen has averaged 11.7 points and 6.4 rebounds in 15 games (three starts). He played at least 24 minutes in each of the past eight games with the absence of two-time All-Star Zion Williamson (hamstring) helping him receive more playing time.
Williamson returned from an eight-game absence to play 29 minutes against the Nuggets, yet Queen still saw 30 minutes of action. Williamson had 14 points, six rebounds and five assists against Denver.
Borrego said he’s looking forward to pairing the two on the floor.
“I love it, because you get to be creative with these guys,” Borrego said. “We have two guys in Zion and ‘DQ’ who are very unique. It’s my job now to really utilize them and maximize them on the floor. … I think we’re going to present a lot of teams challenges defensively, if we can utilize these guys to their max.”
Dallas has lost nine of its last 11 games after falling 113-111 to the New York Knicks on Wednesday in the opener of a three-game homestand.
The Mavericks received more points from reserves (64) than starters (47). D’Angelo Russell and Naji Marshall led the way with 23 points apiece off the bench.
Russell said the Dallas reserves brought a lot of energy.
“I think everybody’s got that mentality where it’s the next man’s up,” Russell said. “Everybody on our roster is hungry to play and prove themselves. Everybody did their part. We were supposed to get out of here with a win and celebrate as a team.”
Starting forward P.J. Washington had 10 rebounds and three steals but scored just six points on 1-of-12 shooting.
“When P.J. goes 1-for-12, a lot of times, you don’t think you’re going to be in the game,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “But that’s P.J.’s ability to fight on the defensive end.”
Standout rookie Cooper Flagg sat out against the Knicks due to illness. He also has been dealing with a thumb injury but is slated to play on Friday.
Dallas big man Anthony Davis (calf) will miss his 12th straight game. The Mavericks hope he returns by the end of this month.
Dallas also learned Thursday that veteran guard Dante Exum will undergo season-ending surgery on his right knee. Exum hasn’t played this season.
