NEW ORLEANS - As much as Dirk Nowitzki struggled to get up accurate shots with Anthony Davis hand in his face, the Dallas Mavericks veteran still found a way to come through in the clutch.Nowitzkis knack for producing when it mattered was mirrored by the Mavericks, who squandered a 17-point lead and trailed by four points early in the fourth quarter before regaining the poise they needed to close out a hard-earned 109-104 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night.Sometimes youve just got to stop the bleeding somehow, refocus and thats what we did, Nowitzki said. I love how we fight for each other.Chandler Parsons scored 20 points, highlighted by a deep 3 to put the Mavericks up 101-96 in the middle of the fourth quarter en route to their second-straight victory. Nowitzki scored 17 despite foul trouble, capped by his 12-foot fade away over Davis that gave Dallas a 109-103 lead with 49 seconds left. Monta Ellis also scored 17 for Dallas, including a jumper and reverse layup late in the third that seemed to halt New Orleans momentum.Weve got an experienced team. A lot of us have been in these situations before and we understand that teams arent just going to give up, Parsons said. Im glad for the way we kept fighting.Davis had 31 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks for New Orleans. Tyreke Evans added 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Jrue Holiday scored 24 for New Orleans.We could have had that game, Davis said. We had the lead in the fourth. ... We have to make sure we execute and focus.Tyson Chandler, who had to contend with Davis and 7-footer Omer Asik, still managed 11 points, seven rebounds and two blocks for Dallas. Devin Harris and Brandan Wright each added 12 points for the Mavericks, who outshot New Orleans 51.7 per cent (46 of 89) to 42.7 per cent (38 of 89) and outscored the Pelicans in the paint, 62-46.After giving up 66 points in the first half, New Orleans buckled down defensively to start the third quarter, which Dallas began by missing seven of 10 shots and turning the ball over four times.The Pelicans quickly erased a double-digit deficit with a 15-0 run that began when Davis steal led to Asiks dunk. Davis added four free throws, a 20-foot jumper, three rebounds and a block of Parsons 3-point attempt during the spurt, the last of those highlights leading to Holidays 3 that gave New Orleans a 75-72 lead.The Mavs took their first 10-point lead just seven minutes in. The lead grew to 17 late in the second quarter on Wrights alley-oop dunk of Nelsons lob. But Evans responded with a 3 to make it 66-52 at halftime.In the first half, we didnt have the pace and the energy that we needed to come out with, Davis said.TIP-INSMavericks: Former Pelicans forward Al-Farouq Aminu faced his previous team for the first time as a member of the Mavericks. He played 16 minutes and two points and five rebounds. .... Chandler was called for a technical foul by Lauren Holtkamp for contesting a foul call on the Dallas defensive end in the first half.Pelicans: With 4:02 left in the first quarter, Davis stepped on Aminus foot under the basket and rolled his left ankle. He remained down on the court for a couple minutes before limping to the bench during a timeout. However, he returned to the court to the relief of the applauding crowd when play resumed. ... Evans drew a technical foul for hanging on the rim after a break-away dunk.THIRD QUARTER CONCERNSMavericks coach Rick Carlisle and numerous players expressed concern over three straight third-quarter lapses.Weve definitely got to solve some of the issues weve had in the third quarter, Nowitzki said. I guess its normal for humans to relax a little bit when they have a lead, so weve got to address that.TAKING CHARGESWhile Pelicans coach Monty Williams lamented the Pelicans seven turnovers in the fourth quarter, the Mavericks were gratified by how they caused three of those by drawing charges.We made a couple stands there, stuck in there and gave up our bodies, said Nowitzki, who drew one of the charges but seemed hesitant to take credit. I think I couldnt get out of the way quick enough. Thats how that happened.UP NEXTDallas: Hosts Boston on Monday night.New Orleans: Plays at Memphis on Monday night. Buy Air Jordan 11 Cheap . 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Juan Francisco and Colby Rasmus both went deep for the Blue Jays, who are second in the American League with 34 home runs on the season.FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The NFL says it is still investigating how the New England Patriots used underinflated balls in their last game but has no conclusions yet and no timetable for resolving the cheating accusations with the Super Bowl nine days away.The league said Friday that evidence shows the Patriots used underinflated footballs during the first half of the AFC championship game Sunday night against the Indianapolis Colts.It issued a statement that the Patriots have pledged full co-operation and have given the league information it requested and made personnel available upon request. Quarterback Tom Brady said Thursday afternoon he had not been contacted at that point.The NFL said it began its investigation Sunday night and expects full co-operation from other clubs. It has hired an investigatory company to help in reviewing electronic and video information.The league said when it is able to come to conclusions, they will be shared publicly.Over the past several days, nearly 40 interviews have been conducted, including of Patriots personnel, game officials, and third parties with relevant information and expertise, the statement said.We have obtained and are continuing to obtain additional information, including video and other electronic information and physical evidence, the statement said.The NFL requires game balls to be inflated to between 12 1/2 and 13 1/2 pounds per square inch.It wants to find out why footballs were underinflated during the first half and whether deliberate action caused it.We have not made any judgments on these points and will not do so until we have concluded our investigation and considered all of the relevant evidence, the league said.The balls were properly infflated for the second half and remained properly inflated after the game, the statement said.ddddddddddddThe Patriots are preparing to meet the defending champion Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Feb. 1 in Glendale, Arizona.Brady and coach Bill Belichick said Thursday they had no explanations for how the footballs were underinflated.I didnt alter the ball in any way, said Brady, who said he likes footballs pumped to the lower limit of 12 1/2 pounds per square inch. I have no knowledge of anything, any wrongdoing.Belichick said that before this week, he didnt give air pressure in footballs much thought.Ive learned a lot more about this process in the last three days than I knew or have talked about it in the last 40 years that Ive coached in this league, he said.Softer balls are generally considered easier to throw and catch, and quarterbacks, specialists and equipment managers are known to have very individualized preferences in how footballs are readied for games. Belichick said he was unaware of the process for game balls until the accusations were raised.Under league rules, each team provides balls for use on offence. Referees approve the balls more than 2 hours before game time, then keep the balls until theyre turned over to ball handlers provided by home teams just before kickoff.The playing rules are intended to protect the fairness and integrity of our games, the NFL said. We take seriously claims that those rules have been violated and will fully investigate this matter without compromise or delay.NFL Executive Vice-President Jeff Pash and Ted Wells of the law firm of Paul Weiss are leading the probe.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '