Mavericks’ Daniel Gafford sets new career high in dominant performance against Pelicans
NEW ORLEANS — Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford scored his 27th point team’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans in the fourth quarter on Wednesday night, setting a new career record for most points scored in a game. Gafford’s previous career high was 26, something he accomplished in 2023according to StatMuse. However, the Pelicans narrowly defeated the Mavericks 119-116 on Wednesday night.
The Mavs knew the game would be a challenge, like Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic , Derek Lively II and Dante Ecum they were all out with injuries. Irving was initially listed as a suspect before eventually being convicted out before tip-off. It was clear the Mavericks needed someone else to step up.
Daniel Gafford answered the call.
The Mavericks center led the way with 27 points and 12 rebounds in a double-double effort. He also missed just one shot, going 12-13 from the field. Jaden Hardy added 21 points and Spencer Dinwiddie 20, but the Mavs fell in the end.
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The Mavericks have now dropped three straight games. It’s been a frustrating stretch for Dallas, as injuries have played a big part in their struggles. However, the Mavs refuse to make excuses. They will continue to fight as they try to get back on track.
The good news is that the head coach of the Mavericks Jason Kidd believes Kyrie Irving should have a realistic chance to return from injury on Friday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. If Gafford enjoys another big game and Irving can bounce back, maybe the Mavs could upset the Thunder in Dallas.
With all that said, Wednesday’s game looked like the Mavs could have won. They didn’t play their best game, but they remained competitive against a Pelicans team that struggled during the 2024-25 season. Daniel Gafford did everything he could, but the Mavericks couldn’t get the job done.
Dallas will try to end their losing streak on Friday against the Thunder.
2025-01-16 03:10:00
