Pelicans vs Mavericks Player Stats: Final Score & Top Scorers

The Mavericks’ 129-111 loss to the Pelicans on March 16, 2026, revealed a cruel statistical mismatch: even with 32 points from Naji Marshall and a near-triple-double from rookie Cooper Flagg, Dallas couldn’t overcome New Orleans’ 52% shooting and 44-38 rebounding edge. Zion Williamson’s 27 points anchored a Pelicans win that was far more lopsided than the standings suggested.

Final Score: Pelicans 129 – Mavericks 111 ·
Top Scorer (Mavericks): Naji Marshall – 32 points ·
Top Scorer (Pelicans): Zion Williamson – 27 points

Four key facts, one pattern: the Pelicans dominated across every major stat category, shooting 52% from the field compared to the Mavericks’ 45%, and out-rebounding Dallas 44-38.

The implication: the Pelicans’ efficiency advantage wasn’t a fluke—it was the product of better ball movement and second-chance opportunities that the Mavericks couldn’t answer.

What were the final scores and key player stats in the Pelicans vs Mavericks game?

Final score and top scorers

• The Pelicans won 129-111, as confirmed by ESPN and NBA.com.
• Quarter-by-quarter: Mavericks 26-28-32-25 = 111; Pelicans 32-35-36-26 = 129 (ESPN (sports news outlet)).
• Both teams entered the game tied at 23-46 (ESPN (sports news outlet)).

Zion Williamson’s stat line

• Zion Williamson scored a team-high 27 points and grabbed 4 rebounds (NBA.com (official league site)).
• YouTube’s official NBA highlights also confirm 27 points (NBA via YouTube (official highlights)).

Naji Marshall’s scoring outburst

• Naji Marshall led all scorers with 32 points, adding 8 rebounds and 7 assists (NBA via YouTube (official highlights)).
• Sofascore’s live tracking shows the same final line (Sofascore (live sports tracker)).

Cooper Flagg’s near-triple-double

• Rookie Cooper Flagg posted 21 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals (NBA via YouTube (official highlights)).
• This performance marks one of the strongest rookie outings of the season for the Mavericks (NBA.com (official league site)).

The catch: even with Marshall and Flagg combining for 53 points, the Mavericks couldn’t close the gap because the Pelicans’ bench outscored Dallas’ second unit decisively.

Which players have played for both the Mavericks and Pelicans?

Notable players who wore both jerseys

• J.J. Redick: played for both franchises, known for three-point shooting (Basketball Reference (stats database)).
• Rajon Rondo: point guard who suited up for both teams, bringing playoff experience (Basketball Reference (stats database)).
• Seth Curry: sharpshooter who played for the Mavericks and later the Pelicans (Basketball Reference (stats database)).

Recent trades and signings

• The Mavericks and Pelicans have not completed a major trade involving a star player since 2023.
• Free agency movements have been limited; Seth Curry’s move stands as the most notable recent transition.

The pattern: players who switch between these two Southwest Division rivals tend to be role players, not franchise cornerstones.

Who did Luka Doncic score 73 points against?

Game details: Atlanta Hawks, January 26, 2024

• Luka Doncic scored 73 points against the Atlanta Hawks on January 26, 2024 (ESPN (sports news outlet)).
• It stands as the fourth-highest single-game point total in NBA history (NBA.com (official league site)).

Comparison with other high-scoring games

• Only Wilt Chamberlain (100), Kobe Bryant (81), and David Thompson (73) have scored more in a single game.
• Doncic’s 73-point performance is the highest by any player since Bryant’s 81 in 2006.

Why this matters: Doncic’s scoring outburst remains the benchmark for individual offensive dominance in this rivalry era, even though he didn’t play in the March 16 game.

Where can I find the official box score and team stats for the Pelicans vs Mavericks?

NBA.com official box score

• Visit the official NBA game page: NBA.com (official league site).
• The page includes quarter breakdown, player stats, and play-by-play logs.

ESPN and Flashscore alternatives

• ESPN’s game recap: ESPN (sports news outlet).
• FOX Sports box score: FOX Sports (sports network).
• Sofascore live tracker: Sofascore (live sports tracker).

How to read a box score

• Key columns: MIN (minutes played), PTS (points), REB (rebounds), AST (assists), FG% (field goal percentage).
• Look for advanced stats like plus-minus (+/-) to gauge on-court impact beyond scoring.

The trade-off: NBA.com offers the most authoritative data, while Sofascore provides faster, real-time updates during live games.

What is the head-to-head record between the Pelicans and Mavericks in recent games?

Last 5 meetings results

• March 16, 2026: Pelicans 129 – Mavericks 111 (NBA.com (official league site)).
• November 5, 2025: Pelicans 101 – Mavericks 99 (Basketball Reference (stats database)).
• Additional data suggests the Pelicans have won 3 of the last 5 matchups as of March 2026.

Trends and patterns

• The Pelicans have covered the spread in 4 of the last 5 home games against the Mavericks.
• In the most recent game, New Orleans’ 52% field goal percentage outpaced Dallas’ 45%, a recurring gap in the matchup.

The implication: the Pelicans’ efficiency edge at home has turned into a consistent advantage, making them a tough matchup for the Mavericks at Smoothie King Center.

Head-to-head timeline and key moments

The pattern: each of these games tells a different story—a blowout, a nail-biter, and a historic scoring night—showing the unpredictability of this rivalry.

Confirmed facts and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• Pelicans defeated Mavericks 129-111 on March 16, 2026 (ESPN (sports news outlet)).
• Naji Marshall scored 32 points for the Mavericks (NBA via YouTube (official highlights)).
• Zion Williamson scored 27 points for the Pelicans (NBA.com (official league site)).
• Cooper Flagg recorded 21 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals (NBA via YouTube (official highlights)).
• Saddiq Bey scored 23 points (NBA via YouTube (official highlights)).

What’s unclear

• Exact attendance figures (approximately 18,500, but unconfirmed).
• Future injury status of Luka Doncic and its impact on Mavericks’ remaining schedule (NBA.com (official league site)).

Quotes from the game

We didn’t execute defensively in the second half. When you give up 36 points in a quarter, you’re not going to win many games.

— Mavericks post-game press conference (NBA.com (official league site))

Everything just clicked tonight. The energy was different, and you could feel it from the tip.

— Zion Williamson, via NBA via YouTube (official highlights)

The Mavericks entered the game injury-depleted, which contributed to the defensive breakdowns that Zion and the Pelicans capitalized on (NBA.com (official league site)).

Summary

For the Mavericks, the game exposed a harsh reality: without full roster health, even career nights from role players like Marshall and rookies like Flagg won’t compensate for porous defense. For the Pelicans, the formula was simple—Zion setting the tone, the bench providing depth, and a home crowd pushing them past a struggling opponent. For fans looking at the Pelicans vs Mavericks match player stats, the takeaway is unmistakable: New Orleans’ efficiency on both ends of the floor made this a blowout rather than a contest. The Mavericks’ choice is clear: address defensive consistency before the final stretch, or risk more games where individual scoring feats go to waste.

Frequently asked questions