Mavericks 102, Pelicans 93: Monta Ellis scored 20 points and Rajon Rondo added 19 as host Dallas ended New Orleans’ five-game winning streak.

Richard Jefferson scored 16 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 14 points and eight rebounds for the Mavericks, who had a 50-24 edge in points in the paint. Devin Harris and Amar’e Stoudemire had 14 points apiece for Dallas, which was 20-of-22 from the free-throw line.

Norris Cole scored 19 points, Eric Gordon added 18 and Tyreke Evans had 17 points and seven assists for the Pelicans. Alexis Ajinca had 13 points and 12 rebounds and Dante Cunningham scored 12 for New Orleans.

A 3-pointer by Nowitzki gave Dallas an 87-73 edge early in the fourth quarter before the Pelicans pulled within six on Cunningham’s basket with 3:43 to play. New Orleans trailed 97-89 after Omer Asik’s basket with 2:19 left but Nowitzki knocked down another 3-pointer with two minutes left to seal it.

The Pelicans made nine 3-pointers in the first half and took a 58-55 lead into the break. The Mavericks rolled off 16 straight points in the third quarter as New Orleans missed 12 straight shots and took an 80-71 lead into the final stanza.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Nowitzki hit three 3-pointers to raise his career total to 1,545 and move into 20th place all-time, passing Tim Hardaway (1,542). … The Pelicans lost for the first time in the five games that All-Star PF Anthony Davis has missed due to his current shoulder ailment. … Dallas SF Chandler Parsons (ankle) missed his fifth straight game and C Tyson Chandler (hip) sat out his third.