NEW ORLEANS • The New Orleans Pelicans snapped a six-game losing start to the season with a 120-105 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday.
But celebrations for a first win of the National Basketball Association campaign were muted in the wake of an injury to Anthony Davis.
The star forward suffered a right hip contusion at the conclusion of the first half and did not return.
He was neither on the bench during the second half nor in the locker room after the game.
X-rays came back negative.
"He got hit with a knee," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters.
He added that he was not sure whether Davis would make the trip to Atlanta for last night's game against the Hawks.
"Such is life," Gentry said with a wry smile.
Ryan Anderson recorded his first double-double of the season, scoring 25 points and grabbing 11 rebounds off the bench to lead New Orleans. Davis, Eric Gordon, Ish Smith and Toney Douglas scored 17 apiece for the Pelicans while Jrue Holiday added 10 in a little more than 15 minutes.
"Obviously, when (Davis) goes out, guys have to step up," Anderson said. "We did that. I mean you go down the line, guys really just played their hearts out."
Dirk Nowitzki scored 18 points to lead the Mavericks (3-4), who have lost three of their past four games.
Charlie Villanueva added 15 points, Zaza Pachulia 12, Justin Anderson 11 and Dwight Powell and J.J. Barea 10 apiece for Dallas.
The Mavericks trailed 40-58 after two quarters and by as many as 28 in the second half.
"Overall, just not good enough tonight," Nowitzki said.
"We had some great looks. We finished the (first) half brutal.
"We had to put some stops together and we did not do that."
The Mavericks, who missed numerous uncontested shots throughout the game, were 5-of-20 in three-point attempts and shot 44 per cent from the field.
"We have to do a lot better," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said.
"We missed some open shots. Their level of force was higher without question."
REUTERS
