The New Orleans Pelicans had a good road trip that ended on a bad note.
New Orleans had won three of four games before squandering a seven-point lead in the final six minutes of the fourth quarter to fall 125-120 to the Dallas Mavericks on Monday. The Pelicans had two chances to tie the contest in the final 17.7 seconds, but they came up short both times.
After failing to cap its road trip with a win, New Orleans will play its first home game in 12 days when it faces the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night.
New Orleans begins the second half of the season Wednesday night having won seven of its past 10 games.
New Orleans defeated Sacramento and Golden State by a combined 69 points to start the trip before losing 125-113 to Denver and splitting two games with the Mavericks.
The Pelicans have won eight of their past 10 road games to improve to 12-9 away from home this season. They are 12-8 in New Orleans.
The game against Charlotte starts a four-game homestand for the Pelicans.
The Hornets are mired in a five-game losing streak and have lost 16 of their past 17 games.
Charlotte scored just 31 first-half points in a 104-87 loss at Miami on Sunday, but Hornets coach Steve Clifford said defense would be the focus during practice ahead of the game at New Orleans, which concludes a three-game road trip.
The Hornets allowed an average of 125.7 points in the three games prior to the loss against the Heat.
