DALLAS (AP) – Kyrie Irving is the common denominator in the two games with two 40-point scorers in the history of the Dallas Mavericks.
Fellow All-Star Luka Doncic’s injury opened things for a new partner. Irving scored 42 points, Tim Hardaway Jr finished one off his career high with 41 and the Mavericks split a two-game home set with New Orleans by beating the Pelicans 125-120 yesterday.
The 40-point pairing came with Doncic missing a third consecutive game with a sprained ankle. Irving and Doncic were the other pair of 40-point scorers in March.
Hardaway set up the repeat – and clinched his second career 40-point game – with a go-ahead three-pointer in the fourth quarter. He left the game briefly earlier after mildly spraining an ankle.
“Opportunity presented itself,” Hardaway said.
“We keep preaching next-man-up mentality. I wish I had a couple of those shots back. But 41 sounds good.” Zion Williamson scored 30 points but was six of 11 on free throws, including a miss with 17 seconds left when he had a chance to get New Orleans even.
The Pelicans finished 31 of 41 at the line.
