We're back with basketball from the NBA with the New Orleans Pelicans at home to the Dallas Mavericks. Since Demarcus Cousins ruptured his achilles in late January, Anthony Davis has been tearing it up even more than usual as he tries to carry the Pels into the playoffs in the West. But with the team's second leading scorer Jrue Holiday out with an illness, the Brow would have it all to do against the struggling Mavs.

There is the highest-scoring non-American player of all-time, Germany's Dirk Nowitzki.

And his Mavericks are already leading in the first quarter when Harrison Barnes throws down. He would finish with 19.

Second quarter and Rajon Rondo casually tosses it up for Davis' one-handed alley-oop to make it 49-48 for the Mavs. Pelicans are up by six in the third stanza, but see their lead reduced when Dirk dials long distance from the top of the arc.

Four minutes later, Nikola Mirotic fakes the shot, steps inside and all the way to the basket. Some fancy footwork for the big man.  In the final seconds of the third quarter, Davis shows his range with a three that ties it up at 80.

But Dallas will go back in front when Kyle Collinsworth feeds Doug McDermott for the tough underhanded layup.  However the hosts soon retake the lead as they move it around to Ian Clark who drains the trey to make it 85-82 Pelicans.

Mavs down five and J.J. Barrea drives in then lobs it for Dwight Powell who slams it down with authority as part of his 11 points.

But Davis gives New Orleans a bit more breathing room when he connects on his second three this night. He would finish with a game-high 37 points. With five and a half minutes to play, Dirk delivers one of his trademark awkward shots for three of his team-high 19 points.

Two and a half minutes left on the clock and the Pelicans lead by five. Davis gets loose and Rondo finds him for another alley-oop, and New Orleans would go on to win 115-105 to boost their bid for a playoff spot in the congested West.

In other games, Houston edged Portland on the back of 42 points from James Harden, Kyle Lowry scored 25 as East leaders Toronto beat Orlando, Marcus Morris hit a three pointer to lift injury riddled Boston over OKC, 100-99. Minnesota got 30 from Karl-Anthony Towns in their victory over the Clippers, Dennis Schroeder scored a career high 41 points as Atlanta ended Utah's nine game winning streak, and Blake Griffin led the way with 26 as Detroit beat Phoenix.