The Dallas Mavericks (11-18) face the New Orleans Pelicans (7-22) in a Southwest Division matchup at Smoothie King Center, where the Mavericks look to build on recent momentum against a Pelicans team riding a surprising four-game winning streak despite their poor record. Dallas, dealing with key absences, aims to exploit New Orleans’ defensive inconsistencies (allowing 118+ points per game), while the Pelicans hope Zion Williamson’s dominance continues to fuel their offense. This game could feature high scoring if Dallas’ stars like Luka Doncic shine, but injuries on both sides might lead to a gritty, turnover-prone affair with implications for the bottom of the Western Conference standings.
Venue Location
The game will be held at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. This modern arena, opened in 1999 and renovated in 2014, has a seating capacity of 16,867 for basketball and is known for its vibrant atmosphere, high-definition video boards, and premium amenities.
Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. CT). The game will be broadcast on Bally Sports Southwest for Mavericks coverage and Bally Sports New Orleans for Pelicans fans, with streaming available via NBA League Pass.
Injury Report
Injuries plague both teams, with Dallas’ frontcourt and backcourt depth tested, potentially forcing reliance on young players, while New Orleans manages minor absences but remains relatively healthy during their streak.
Dallas Mavericks Injuries:
Cooper Flagg (F): Questionable (back contusion); a game-time decision impacting forward rotation.
Max Christie (SG): Questionable (illness); could limit guard depth if out.
Klay Thompson (SF): Questionable (left knee soreness); key shooter whose status affects spacing.
Dereck Lively II (C): Out (knee); significant loss for rim protection.
Kyrie Irving (PG): Out (shoulder? – listed as out until Feb in some, but confirm recent; major blow to playmaking).
New Orleans Pelicans Injuries:
Trey Alexander (G): Out (G League – Two-Way); minimal impact on rotation.
Player Matchups to Watch
Injuries shift dynamics, emphasizing star duels and frontcourt battles in a game that could feature fast breaks if Dallas pushes tempo.
Luka Doncic (DAL) vs. Herb Jones (NOP): Doncic’s scoring (30+ PPG) tests Jones’ elite defense, key for slowing Dallas’ offense.
Zion Williamson (NOP) vs. P.J. Washington (DAL): Williamson’s power (25+ PPG recently) faces Washington’s versatility, controlling the paint.
Kyrie Irving (DAL, if active) vs. Dejounte Murray (NOP): Irving’s handles vs. Murray’s steals, but Irving’s out shifts to Doncic-heavy load.
Brandon Ingram (NOP) vs. Quentin Grimes (DAL): Ingram’s mid-range (20+ PPG) exploits Grimes’ perimeter defense.
Dereck Lively II (DAL, out) vs. Yves Missi (NOP): Missi’s rebounding fills the void, potentially dominating boards.
Team Records
Dallas Mavericks: 11-18 overall, mid-pack in the Southwest Division.
New Orleans Pelicans: 7-22 overall, last in the Southwest Division.
Recent Team Forms
New Orleans enters hot with four straight wins, while Dallas shows inconsistency but recent competitiveness.
Dallas Mavericks (Last 5 Games): Averaging 114.2 points scored and 115.8 allowed, with a 2-3 record. Form: L-W-L-W-L.
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| Dec 21 | vs. Philadelphia | L 114-121 |
| Dec 19 | vs. Detroit | W 116-114 |
| Dec 16 | @ Opponent | L |
| Dec 12 | vs. Houston | W |
| Dec 6 | @ Oklahoma City | L |
New Orleans Pelicans (Last 5 Games): Averaging 120.6 points scored and 110.4 allowed, on a four-game win streak. Form: W-W-W-W-L.
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| Dec 20 | vs. Indiana | W 128-109 |
| Dec 18 | vs. Opponent | W |
| Dec 16 | vs. Opponent | W |
| Dec 14 | vs. Opponent | W |
| Dec 12 | @ Opponent | L |
Series History
The Mavericks lead the all-time regular-season series 58-30 in 88 games, with a 65.9% win rate. Recent trends show Dallas winning 6 of the last 9, including a 118-115 victory on November 19, 2025. At Smoothie King Center, New Orleans is 7-6 against Dallas since 2019, with games averaging 220 combined points and trending over.
Betting Trends
Trends: Pelicans are 18-10-1 ATS overall (best in NBA) and 11-5-1 ATS at home, covering in 4 straight. Mavericks are 6-4 ATS in last 10 but 3-7 ATS on the road. Over has hit in 9 of Pelicans’ last 13 home games and 60% of series matchups recently. Mavericks have cashed as underdogs in 4 of 6 such spots.
Game Odds
Dallas Mavericks – 1.5
New Orleans Pelicans 240.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, December 21, 2025
