New Orleans Pelicans vs Dallas Mavericks Predictions, Odds & Picks

• The New Orleans Pelicans look to bounce back from a three-game losing streak.
• On the other hand, the Dallas Mavericks are looking to build off of their three-game winning streak!
• Over 67 regular-season meetings, the Mavericks lead the Pelicans 45 to 22.

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Pelicans vs Mavericks Predictions and Picks

The Dallas Mavericks have been forcing their opponents into difficult offensive choices, usually ending up in a turnover or steal. New Orleans, famously careless with the basketball, don’t have ball control in their favour on top of their issues guarding the three-point line. We’re taking the streaking Mavericks in this matchup whose two-way play will overwhelm the young Pelicans.

Picks:

Dallas Mavericks to Win (-182)

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How to Watch Pelicans vs  Mavericks

Head-to-Head: Pelicans vs Mavericks

New Orleans Must Find Their Defensive Form

By nature of Stan Van Gundy’s gameplan, the New Orleans Pelicans have been a more than capable defensive team through the first nine games of the young NBA season. While they got off to a strong start, their last three games, all losses, have seen them struggle to contain their opponents.

Despite a 106.7 defensive rating and allowing just 106.6 points per game on average, they’ve slipped in their last three. Over their three consecutive losses, the Pelicans have allowed 115.7 points per game while their opponents have shot 47.2% from the field and 40.6% from the three-point line.

While it comes down to effort, the Pelicans must limit three-point attempts from their opponents. New Orleans is eleventh in three-point percentage allowed, but their opponents are still converting on 15.9 threes per game – last in the league. Finding a happy medium between protecting the paint and the three will be crucial to the Pelicans’ change in form.

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Dallas’ Frontcourt Needs Help

Just when you thought that the Mavericks’ frontcourt rotation was set in stone, the coronavirus pandemic struck again as German forward Maxi Kleber was forced into the reserve list for health and safety protocols related to COVID-19.

Against a New Orleans Pelicans team that sports Zion Williamson and Steven Adams in the frontcourt, not to mention Jaxson Hayes off the bench, the Mavericks will need to be aggressive when managing the glass on both ends of the court. Sixth overall in offensive rebounds, the Pelicans post a threat that the Mavericks must be prepared for.

The battle on the glass will fall to Willie Cauley-Stein, Dwight Powell, and Boban Marjanovic. None of those players has the versatility on either end that Kleber possesses, but a productive shift from each could overcome one of the most dominating frontcourts in the league.

Pelicans Key Player: (G) Lonzo Ball

LONZO. BALL. IS. ON. FIRE. ?

Pelicans lead by 7!!@PelicansNBA | @ZO2_ | #WontBowDown pic.twitter.com/KeWwyXTb1W

— FOXSports NewOrleans (@FOXSportsNOLA) January 5, 2021

When the New Orleans Pelicans traded away Jrue Holiday, it was in hopes of being able to pass the keys over to Lonzo Ball full-time. While he’s not been dreadful through his first nine games, the fourth-year guard has struggled to find shooting consistency.

Ball is yet to shoot better than 35% from the field in consecutive games so far this season. While his primary role is as a facilitator, his penchant for poor shot consistency as well as turnovers is hurting the Pelicans’ offence.

With capable kickout partners in Redick and Ingram, while having the league’s best aerial threat in Zion Williamson, Ball must be able to manufacture an efficient offence on his own. Considering he declined a rookie extension, Ball’s career could be defined by this season.

Mavericks Key Player: (G) Luka Doncic

? @luka7doncic‘s triple-double powers the @dallasmavs.

20 PTS | 11 REB | 10 AST | 2 BLK pic.twitter.com/3qS97nizax

— NBA (@NBA) January 10, 2021

To nobody’s surprise, Luka Doncic is the engine that makes the Dallas Mavericks go forward. He’s an exceptional playmaker and shooter, creating for others almost as much as he can create for himself. However in his sophomore season, Doncic has seen new struggles.

While he is a deadeye three-point shooter in general, Doncic is shooting a dismal 22.8% from three-point land over eight games this season. It isn’t that he’s just shooting poorly, but with newfound focus and attention this year, Doncic is finding his offensive chances are growing more difficult.

The New Orleans Pelicans allow the most three-point attempts and field-goals per game in the entire NBA. For Doncic, the opportunities to convert from range will be there. If he can’t reward the Mavericks from deep, it’ll be tough to overcome the multi-talented Pelicans.