Kyrie Irving scores 35 points to help the Mavericks beat the Pelicans 111-103 for 3rd straight win

DALLAS (AP) — Kyrie Irving scored 35 points, P.J. Washington Jr. had 20 of his 24 points in the first half and the Dallas Mavericks beat the New Orleans Pelicans 111-103 on Friday night for their third straight victory.

Irving hit 11 of 22 shots from the floor, hitting 5 of 12 3-pointers, and all eight of his free throws.

Washington, a 6-foot-7 power forward, returned to a Dallas lineup whose three centers are all out with injuries after he missed the last three games before the All-Star break with an ankle sprain.

Zion Williamson scored 29 points for New Orleans, and Trey Murphy III had 20. The Pelicans have lost 11 of their last 12.

Pelicans: Kelly Olynyk made his Pelicans debut after missing four games following the Feb. 6 trade that brought him from Toronto. Olynyk had four points, three rebounds and three assists in 23 minutes. ... Williamson passed 5,000 career points in 203 games, third-fastest behind Luka Doncic (194 games) and LeBron James (197).

Mavericks: The winning streak is Dallas’ longest since a seven-game run Nov. 25-Dec. 7. ... Naji Marshall had 15 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

After CJ McCollum’s 25-foot 3-pointer pulled New Orleans to 103-99 with 2:53 to play, Marshall answered with a right-corner 3, and Irving sank the next basket from behind the arc with 57 seconds left for a 109-99 Dallas lead.

The Mavericks won the outside game – hitting 16 of 44 3-pointers to the Pelicans’ 8 of 27 – to negate New Orleans’ 56-36 edge in the paint.

The Pelicans will play the first of consecutive home games against San Antonio on Sunday night. The Mavericks are at Golden State on Sunday.

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Dallas Mavericks forward Kessler Edwards, left, looks to pass the ball as New Orleans Pelicans' Kelly Olynyk, right, defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks' Daniel Gafford, left, and Dereck Lively II, right, stand on the court during a time out from play in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in Dallas, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) works against New Orleans Pelicans' Jordan Hawkins and Karlo Matkovic, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks' Naji Marshall (13) drives to the basket as New Orleans Pelicans' Bruce Brown (00) defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) goes up to shoot as New Orleans Pelicans' Yves Missi (21) and CJ McCollum, right, defend in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Antonio Reeves (12) handles the ball as Dallas Mavericks' Kyrie Irving, right, defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington, center, works to get to the basket as New Orleans Pelicans' Kelly Olynyk (13) and CJ McCollum (3) defend in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks center Moses Brown (9) looks to pass the ball as New Orleans Pelicans' Karlo Matkovic (17) defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, left, works against New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi (21) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.

Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.

“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.

"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.

Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.

Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.

FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)