NBA: Fourth-quarter push gives Pelicans the win over Mavericks

Brian Roberts scored the last seven points of the New Orleans Pelicans, including the go-ahead jumper with 21.9 seconds left, as the visiting side trumped the Dallas Mavericks 94-92, Monday (Tuesday, PHL time) at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, as part of the NBA preseason slate.

It was the second preseason win for the Pelicans, formerly the New Orleans Hornets, after dispatching Dwight Howard and the Houston Rockets, Saturday (Sunday, PHL time).

Last season's number one overall pick Anthony Davis had 25 points on 11-of-19 shooting, plus seven rebounds, a steal and a block. Roberts added 17 markers, all in the fourth quarter, and four assists off the bench, while the starting backcourt of Anthony Morrow and Jrue Holiday combined for 24 points, including three triples each.

Neither side led by double-digits, as they swapped the lead constantly throughout the game. Dallas ended the third with back-to-back triples to go up by five, 67-62, but six to start the fourth quarter by New Orleans put them ahead, 68-67.

It was a five-point lead again for Dallas off a split at the line by Renaldo Balkman, 83-78, 4:03 left to play, but a put-back of his own miss by Arinze Onuaku made it a one-point affair, 83-82, Mavericks still up.

Undrafted point guard Mickey McConnell nailed a pair of charities to push Dallas' lead to three, 90-87, a minute and change left, but back-to-back hits by Roberts edged New Orleans ahead. Off a foul, Balkman made two charities to snatch the lead away, but Roberts took and kept it for the Pelicans with a jumper and a split at the line, 94-92. Rookie Rickey Ledo attempted a game-winning triple, but the shot failed to connect as the buzzer sounded.

Brandan Wright led Dallas with 14 points off the bench, while free agent signee Monta Ellis put together 13 points and seven assists in 24 minutes. Dirk Nowitzki scored six points in 22 minutes of action before sitting out the rest of the game.

Dallas lost despite a 26-17 difference in assists, as they had double the turnovers of their foes, 28-14. - AMD, GMA News