Irving 42+7+7 became the first person in history!Hardaway Jr. 41 points and 9 three-pointers, and the Mavericks narrowly defeated the Pelicans

On January 16, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued, and the Mavericks defeated the Pelicans 125-120 at home, avenging the loss to their opponent two days ago. Doncic continued to be sidelined, Hardaway Jr. scored 41 points and 9 three-pointers, and Irving scored 42 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists, and the two of them scored 40+ to lead the team to victory. Irving became the first player in NBA history to score 40+ on the same court with three different teammates. The Mavericks led by as many as 16 points, but the Pelicans once overtook them, and in the final quarter, the Mavericks were on fire and finally held on to the victory. Zion 30 points and McCollum 23.

In the first quarter of the game, Irving and Hardaway Jr. showed excellent hands, Irving scored 10 points in a single quarter, Hardaway Jr. scored 9 points in a single quarter, and the Mavericks scored 33-17 in the first quarter and gained a 16-point lead, which was also the largest point difference in the Mavericks' lead in this game. In the second quarter, Zion ushered in an outbreak, scoring 12 points on 5-of-5 in a single quarter, McCollum scoring 9 points on 3-of-3 in a single quarter, and the Pelicans shot 78.9% in the second quarter, 42-26 in response, erasing the 16-point difference, and the two sides were tied at 59 at halftime. Hardaway Jr. scored 24 points in the first half, Irving 18 and Zion 15.

Yibian fought again, and it was already the Pelicans who took the initiative in the third quarter, and they scored another 40 points in this quarter, winning the Mavericks by 7 points 40-33 in a single quarter. Although Irving scored 15 points in this quarter, he couldn't stop the Pelicans' team-wide offense. In the final quarter, the Pelicans suddenly lost fire, and it was Hardaway Jr. and Irving's turn to break out together, and both of them increased their scores to 40+, helping the Mavericks win the victory by 5 points and refusing to make a 16-point reversal.

Irving has scored at least 33 points in five straight games. 35 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists against the Timberwolves, 33 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists against the Grizzlies, 44 points, 4 rebounds and 10 assists against the Knicks, 33 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists against the Pelicans, and 42 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists against the Pelicans.

In this game, Hardaway Jr. and Irving of the Mavericks also set a number of records -

1. Irving became the first player in NBA history to score 40+ points in the same game with three different teammates, in 2016, he and James each scored 41 points in the same game, in 2023 against the 76ers, he scored 40 points and Doncic scored 42 points, and in 2024, he scored 42 points and Hardaway Jr. scored 41 points.

2. Hardaway Jr.'s 24 points in the first half was his season-high half-time score.

3. Irving and Hardaway Jr. hit 40+ on the same court, becoming only the second pair of Mavericks players in history to do so. The last time it was against the 76ers on March 3, 2023, when Doncic scored 42 points and Irving scored 40 points.

4. Irving and Hardaway Jr. hit 40+ on the same court, which is also the 20th time in NBA history that two teammates have scored 40+ on the same game.

5. Hardaway Jr.'s 41 points are a season-high personal high, and his career-high 42 points (set against the Pistons in 2021).

6. Hardaway Jr.'s nine three-pointers also set a new personal season high, and his career-high 10 three-pointers.