Stats rundown: 5 stats to know from the Mavericks meltdown loss in New Orleans, 119-116

Welcome to rock bottom, folks

The Dallas Mavericks (22-19) found yet another way to lose a ballgame, this time by the score of 119-116 to the New Orleans Pelicans (10-32). That’s now the Mavs third straight loss, and overall their eighth loss in their last 10 games. The Mavs carried a 105-98 lead into the final seven-ish minutes, but once again they were unable to close out a game they desperately needed. Daniel Gafford led the way for Dallas with his career high 27 points. Jaden Hardy contributed 21 off the bench, with Spencer Dinwiddie giving the Mavs 20 points. Dejounte Murray had a game high 30 points, with Trey Murphy giving them 24.

Here’s some numbers to know

0: Offensive process in the 4th quarter

The end to this game felt eerily similar to the 1st Denver Nuggets loss earlier this week, where the Mavs blew a 12-point fourth quarter lead to lose 112-101. If you remember that one, Jason Kidd said the ball was stuck in the fourth quarter, leading to bad shots. Well, history repeats itself and it certainly did in this one as well. The Mavs got stuck in multiple Spencer Dinwiddie isolations, with very mixed results, that allowed the Pelicans to turn a 105-98 deficit into what eventually became a three point lead at 117-114. That’s a 19-9 kick by the Pelicans to get this thing over the finish line. Atrocious process once again doomed the Mavericks.

36: Combined points by Daniel Gafford, Jaden Hardy in the 1st half

Really the only thing that kept Dallas in this game was the effort by Gafford & Hardy in the first half. Dallas found themselves down 45-34 at one point in the second quarter, The fight they showed to get the game tied at 61 right before half really saved them.

9:30: Time left in the 4th quarter when the Mavericks got into the bonus

That’s good, right?

2: Free throws they shot from that point to the end of the game.

Yikes!

0: Goaltends called by the officiating crew

Let’s not kid ourselves, the Mavs lost this game due to things that happened well before the final few seconds. However, they found themselves in that spot and somehow got the steal required to get a shot to win the game. But alas, when it rains it pours and it’s a downpour in Dallas right now.