PREVIEW
PELICANS (6-16) AT MAVS (15-6)
Time: 1 p.m. CT
Place: American Airlines Center, Dallas
TV: FSSW
Radio: ESPN 103.3 FM; Univision 1270 AM (Spanish)
About the Mavs: Thanks to Boston beating Denver and Milwaukee defeating the Los Angeles Clippers – both on Friday night – the Mavs have vaulted to the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. . .This is the second of a three-game home stand for Mavs. The home stand concludes with Sunday’s game against the Sacramento Kings before the Mavs play the Detroit Pistons in Mexico City on Thursday. . .The Mavs opened this home stand with Wednesday’s hard-fought 121-114 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Dwight Powell (24 points, 25 minutes), Luka Doncic (22 points, seven rebounds, six assists), Kristaps Porzingis (19 points, six rebounds) and Jalen Brunson (16 points, 18 minutes) led the way for the Mavs. . .The early tipoff is because the Dallas Stars will host the New York Islanders tonight at 8 p.m. . .This is the opener of a home-and-home back-to-back. The Mavs are 1-1 on the front end of a back-to-back. They lost the front end of a back-to-back at home to the New York Knicks, 106-102, on Nov. 8. And they just beat the Pelicans in New Orleans this past Tuesday, 118-97, on the front end of a back-to-back. . .Doncic now has at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists in 17 consecutive games. The only players in NBA history with such a terrific streak are Michael Jordan, 18 – 1988-’89) and Russell Westbrook (17 – 2014-’15). . .The Mavs are 43-22 all-time against the Pelicans, including a 25-6 record during games played in Dallas.
About the Pelicans: Mainly because of the absence of Zion Williamson, the Pelicans are going through some difficult times right now. After Thursday’s 139-132 loss in overtime to the Phoenix Suns, New Orleans has now lost its last seven games. The top overall pick in last June’s NBA Draft, Williamson has yet to practice after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on Oct. 21 to address a torn right lateral meniscus. Williamson was originally slated to be back in six-to-eight weeks, and this past Monday was the six-week mark since he underwent the surgery. . .This is just a one-game road trip for the Pelicans before they return home to host the Detroit Pistons on Monday. . .The Pelicans are in last place in the Southwest Division and have the next-to-last worst record in the Western Conference. . .Brandon Ingram, who averages 25.2 ppg and 7.2 rpg, scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds before fouling out in the loss to the Suns. . .Jrue Holiday is averaging 19.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg and 6.9 apg, JJ Redick averages 15.6 ppg, Josh Hart is averaging 11.7 pgg and 6.4 rpg, and Lonzo Ball averages 11.6 ppg and 6.0 apg. . .The Pelicans are seventh in the NBA in scoring at 114.5 ppg, and next-to-last in points allowed at 119.7 ppg. . .The last time the Pelicans won a game was on Nov. 21 in Phoenix when they beat the Suns, 124-121, behind 28 points, eight rebounds and five assists from Ingram, 26 points from Redick and 23 points from Holiday.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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