Pelicans Return Home To Battle Mavericks During NBA In-Season Tournament
New Orleans, LA - The New Orleans Pelicans (4-5) return home to face the red-hot Dallas Mavericks (7-2) on Sunday evening in the Smoothie King Center. Dallas is second in the Western Conference standings early in the NBA season, while New Orleans has lost four straight games. This is each team's second NBA In-Season Tournament game.
New Orleans comes off a tough loss to the Rockets on Friday evening. The Pelicans are desperate to end their current losing streak, but beating the Mavericks will not be easy. Dallas is an offensive juggernaut, coming into the matchup No. 2 in scoring (122.8), No. 2 in offensive efficiency, and No. 1 in the league in three-point shooting (40.3%).
Luka Doncic leads the NBA in scoring with 32.9 points, and he's the engine making the Mavs offense run. Doncic also leads Dallas in rebounding (8.9) and assists (8.4). Along with his backcourt running mate, Kyrie Irving, they make up the highest-scoring backcourt in the NBA, averaging 53 points per game.
Feb 2, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) and New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (5) in action during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the New Orleans Pelicans at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Pelicans look to get healthy as injuries have decimated the team to begin the season. Herb Jones, who missed the previous two games, is listed as questionable. Naji Marshall is also listed as questionable for Sunday's matchup. Marshall has not played this season after injuring his leg in preseason. CJ McCollum, Jose Alvarado, and Trey Murphy III remain out on Sunday.
New Orleans must find a way to play a consistent 48 minutes of basketball. Third quarters were an issue for the Pelicans earlier in the season, but in the past two games, the second quarter has doomed New Orleans. The Pelicans have given up 40 points in either the second or third quarter in four straight games.
Zion Williamson on Friday started the game strong with 14 points in the first quarter, the most point he's scored in the opening quarter in his career. He scored just 10 points the remainder of the game, and New Orleans lost after giving up a 9-1 run to end the game. Williamson historically has found much success against the Mavs.
Zion averages 31.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in his career versus Dallas. New Orleans advantage will be in the interior versus the Mavericks' defense. The Mavs are 28th in the NBA in opponent points in the paints (57.8). It will be important for the Pelicans to get Jonas Valaciunas going inside. The Big Man has recorded just one double-digit scoring game in the last four contests.
Sunday's matchup is the first of six straight games in the Smoothie King Center for the Pelicans, the longest stretch of the season. Getting off to a good start during this home stretch will allow New Orleans to get the season back on track.
