New Orleans Pelicans vs Dallas Mavericks Prediction: Down-and-out Pels take on underwhelming Mavs

The NBA world has showcased something interesting repeatedly. You can collect three of the best players from the league but it is no guarantee of bringing the desired results. Thus, the game is more than about collecting the best talent, it is also about adapting to each other and developing a coaching module where everyone is willing to do their part. Some teams need time to mesh together their top players as well. One of those teams, the Dallas Mavericks are going to take on the New Orleans Pelicans here.

The Pelicans come into this affair after losing 108:121 against the Kings despite a 24 points performance by Brandon Ingram. The Pels have lost two in a row and have seven losses in nine matches. If we look at the scenario from 2023, things look dire for the team that had a 23 wins and 12 losses record till the end of 2022. In the last 60+ days, they have lost 22 and have won merely eight games. This is mostly because of an injury to Zion Williamson who had put the Pels on the map. Ingram also missed a big part of the season but even his return hasn’t helped Pels become what they were earlier.

The Mavs enter the fray after beating the Jazz 120:116 on the heels of a 33 points outburst by Kyrie Irving. The Mavs have two wins in three games but their play in an extended window has been terrible, having lost six of their last nine match-ups. This is despite the acquisition of Kyrie who joins one of the best Luka Doncic. The Mavs’ defense hasn’t been anywhere close to last season, when they reached the Conference Finals after beating the league’s best record holder last season(Phoenix Suns) in the Conference Semis. This season maybe a dud for the duo of Irving and Doncic who need defensive stoppers.

• Pelicans: OUT: Zion Williamson, Jose Alvarado, Larry Nance Jr;
• Mavericks: Game-Time Decisions: JaVale McGee, Reggie Bullock.

The Pels are in need for a big push here if they are to stay in the contention of the Play-in tournament. The Mavs have been playing so-so basketball as well and they have their own share of problems, which can lead to an early downfall in the Play-in scenario or the Playoffs. The Mavs played last night in a close affair but I’d still back them to win this game. I predict a scoreline of 119:116 in Mavericks favor.