Kyrie Irving is the common denominator in the two games with two 40-point scorers in the history of the Dallas Mavericks.
Fellow All-Star Luka Doncic's injury opened things for a new partner.
Irving scored 42 points, Tim Hardaway Jr. finished one off his career high with 41 and the Mavericks split a two-game home set with New Orleans by beating the Pelicans 125-120.
The 40-point pairing came with Doncic missing a third consecutive game with a sprained ankle.
Irving and Doncic were the other pair of 40-point scorers in March.
Hardaway set up the repeat — and clinched his second career 40-point game — with a go-ahead 3-pointer in the fourth quarter.
He left the game briefly earlier after mildly spraining an ankle.
Zion Williamson scored 30 points for the Pelicans but was 6 of 11 on free throws, including a miss with 17 seconds left when he had a chance to get New Orleans even after Dallas fouled him on purpose near midcourt before he could start one of his smooth left-handed moves to the basket.
The Mavericks play the Lakers on Thursday while the Pelicans face the Hornets.
Source:
ESPN
