The Dallas Mavericks needed a stabilizing force entering the unofficial second half of the season after three weeks full of turmoil and uncertainty. That familiar presence came in the form of Kyrie Irving,

Kyrie Irving lifted the Mavericks with 35 points on 11/22 shooting. P.J. Washington was the other main scorer for the Mavs, scoring 24 points on 8/17 shooting as he came off an ankle injury. Max Christie (16 points), Naji Marshall (15 points, 10 rebounds), and Klay Thompson (12 points) were also in double figures.

Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 35 points and the host Dallas Mavericks came to life at the start of the fourth quarter on the way to a 111-103 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.