PREVIEW
MAVERICKS AT PELICANS
Time: 7 p.m. CT
Place: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans
TV: FSSW/ESPN
Radio: ESPN 103.3 FM; Univision 1270 AM (Spanish)
About the Mavs: Luka Doncic collected 34 points, nine rebounds and two steals, and Kristaps Porzingis added 23 points as the Mavs opened the season at home on Wednesday with a 108-100 victory over the Washington Wizards. The Mavs led by as many as 23 points. . .Also against the Wizards, the Mavs received 10 points, eight rebounds and a career-high eight free throw attempts from Dorian Finney-Smith, and 10 points in just 19 minutes from Justin Jackson. . .The Mavs entered this season wanting to improve their rebounding game, and they only lost that battle by one (47-46) against Washington. . .Defensively, the Mavs limited the Wizards to 39.8 percent shooting. That includes just 26.3 percent (11-of-41) shooting from beyond the 3-point arc. . .The last time the Mavs opened a season with a 2-0 record was the 2004-’05 campaign when they won their first four games. . .The Mavs are 41-22 all-time against New Orleans, including a 16-16 record on the road. . .The Mavs went 1-3 against the Pelicans last season. The lone win for the Mavs came in Dallas, 122-119, on Dec. 26, 2018.
About the Pelicans: Enthusiasm has been sky-high in New Orleans ever since the Pelicans won the Draft Lottery back in the spring, thus giving them the opportunity to draft Duke sensation Zion Williamson. But that enthusiasm has been tempered somewhat because Williamson had to undergo surgery last week to repair his torn right meniscus. Williamson will be sidelined from six-to-eight weeks, meaning it’s imperative that someone else step up in his absence in order to keep the Pelicans afloat. . .Tonight’s game is the home opener for the Pelicans, and the arena is expected to be very loud considering over 10,000 fans showed up for the team’s open practice earlier this month. . .New Orleans started the season Wednesday on the road with a 130-122 loss in overtime to the world champion Toronto Raptors. Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 22 points, five rebounds, five assists and two blocks, JJ Redick scored 16 points and was 4-of-6 from 3-point territory, Josh Hart contributed 15 points and 10 rebounds, Nicolo Melli had 14 points, and Jrue Holiday added 13 points, six assists and two blocks.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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