NEW ORLEANS -- Pelicans forward Anthony Davis sat out the second half of Tuesday's 120-105 win over the Dallas Mavericks with what the team called a bruised right hip.
Team officials said X-rays on the All-Star forward's hip were negative, but they were holding him out as a precaution. Davis helped the Pelicans build an 18-point halftime lead that never dipped below 14 points en route to the team's first win of the season.
Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said Davis would undergo further testing to determine the exact nature of the injury.
"I just know he had some problems," Gentry said. "I don't know if it's a groin or a hamstring. We'll have to wait and see. Nothing surprises us here."
Gentry said he does not yet know Davis' status for Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Hawks. However, an NBA source told ESPN.com the early indications are the injury is not too serious.
Davis' injury drained all the joy from Gentry, whom the Pelicans hired this past summer after his one-year stint on the staff of the NBA champion Golden State Warriors. The Pelicans had dropped their first six games of the season, and when a reporter congratulated him on his first victory as Pelicans head coach, Gentry could manage only, "Yeah, thanks."
The Pelicans never trailed Tuesday night and led by as many as 25 points. It was enough of a cushion to get by without Davis in the second half.
The injury plagued Pelicans welcomed Jrue Holiday and Omer Asik back to the lineup. They remain without Tyreke Evans, Quincy Pondexter and Norris Cole. Six Pelicans scored in double figures, highlighted by Ryan Anderson's 25 points and 11 rebounds.
A better defensive effort helped the Pelicans get off to a good start. They had allowed the most points in the league entering Tuesday but forced turnovers on Dallas' first three possessions and scored 10 points before the Mavericks managed a shot.
Davis had 17 points and seven rebounds in the first half. Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 18 points.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.