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LOS ANGELES: Luka Doncic scored 37 points but it was not enough to stop the Dallas Mavericks from slipping to defeat against the depleted New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).
Slovenian star Doncic dragged the Mavs to within one point of the Pels with four seconds remaining after a driving layup made it 112-111.
The 23-year-old was left shaking his head in disappointment after a three-point effort on the buzzer that would have snatched victory bounced off the rim to hand New Orleans a 113-111 win.
Doncic finished with 11 rebounds and seven assists in addition to his 37-point haul, with Spencer Dinwiddie providing support with 24 points and Christian Wood 23 points.
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But Dallas were ultimately pipped by a balanced New Orleans line-up that saw eight players finish in double figures.
The victory was made all the more impressive given injuries that deprived New Orleans of regular starters Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
Trey Murphy 3rd scored 22 points — making 8-of-8 from the field — while C.J. McCollum made 14 points with 11 assists.
McCollum later admitted he could barely watch as Doncic launched his last-gasp three-point attempt on the buzzer.
“When he shot it I just thought 'Please don't go in, please don't go in',” McCollum told an on-court interviewer.
“I didn't shoot the ball well but a lot of young guys stepped up tonight and that's what we're going to need all season long.
“We're a solid team. Guys work hard, get in early and stay late and they relish these kind of opportunities to come out and put on a show.”
The Pelicans improved to 3-1 with a win to move into second in the Western Conference behind leaders Portland. Dallas fell to 1-2 with the loss.
In other games on Tuesday, the Washington Wizards took their season record to 3-1 with a 120-99 romp against the Detroit Pistons at home.
Kyle Kuzma led the Washington scorers with 25 points with Kristaps Porzingis adding 20. Will Barton added 16 from the bench, including four three-pointers.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, likewise, defeated the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers, 108-94, for their first win of the season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, playing with a bruised left hip, scored 33 points. He made 11 of 22 field goals and 9 of 9 free throws and had eight assists.
The Clippers were without Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
Leonard sat out to rest his right knee and George missed the game with an illness.
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