Luka Doncic returns from injury to score 26 points as Mavericks top the Pelicans 132-91

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Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) drives to the basket as New Orleans Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III (25) defends in the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game in Dallas, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic works to take control of the ball in front of New Orleans Pelicans forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (50) in the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game in Dallas, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, left, shoots as New Orleans Pelicans’ Javonte Green, right, defends in the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game in Dallas, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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New Orleans Pelicans forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl leaps to the basket for a shot as Dallas Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving, front bottom, and Quentin Grimes, bottom right, look on in the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game in Dallas, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson drives to the basket against New Orleans Pelicans guard Brandon Boston Jr. (11) in the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game in Dallas, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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New Orleans Pelicans forward Jamal Cain has his shot blocked by Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (21) in the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game in Dallas, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II dunks the ball as New Orleans Pelicans defender Jaylen Nowell (20) falls to the floor in the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game in Dallas, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram works against Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II, rear, in the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game in Dallas, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) attempts to make a pass as Dallas Mavericks’ P.J. Washington, right, defends in the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game in Dallas, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford shoots as New Orleans Pelicans’ Javonte Green (4) defends in the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game in Dallas, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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New Orleans Pelicans guard Javonte Green dunks in the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic returned to the lineup and scored a game-high 26 points, Klay Thompson added 19 and Kyrie Irving had 18 as the Dallas Mavericks beat the undermanned New Orleans Pelicans 132-91 in an NBA Cup game on Tuesday night.

Doncic, who missed his first game of the season in Dallas’ win at Oklahoma City on Sunday due to a knee injury, shot 10 of 16 overall and 3 for 8 from 3-point distance. He hit a pair of step-back 3-pointers midway through the fourth quarter giving Dallas a 111-75 lead.

Trey Murphy III, playing his fourth game this season because of hamstring issues, scored a season-high 19 points to lead the Pelicans. New Orleans was missing five of its rotation players. Two-time All-Star Zion Williamson missed his sixth consecutive game and is out indefinitely.

The Mavericks won their third straight, finishing with their highest point total of the season and largest margin of victory.

The Pelicans have lost 11 of their last 13 games.

Takeaways

Pelicans: Rookie Yves Missi had a game-high nine rebounds, all in the first half.

Mavericks: In the second year of the NBA Cup, the Mavericks used a special tournament court at home for the first time. Their court last year wasn’t used for either home group-play games for what the team called manufacturing issues.

Key moment

The Pelicans cut Dallas’ lead to 81-65 late in the third period before Irving followed a 25-foot 3-pointer with another seconds later, pulling up from 29 feet.

Key stat

The Mavericks outscored the Pelicans 66-34 in the paint, their largest margin this season.

Up next

The Pelicans will complete a road back-to-back on Wednesday, visiting the Cleveland Cavaliers, who had their season-opening 15-game winning streak stopped in Boston on Tuesday. The Mavericks begin a three-game trip on Friday at Denver, where they lost to the Nuggets 122-120 on Nov. 10.

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