New Orleans Pelicans vs Dallas Mavericks Betting Picks & Predictions

Game outlook

The New Orleans Pelicans and the Dallas Mavericks are set to face off for the second time in three days on Monday. In their previous matchup, the Pelicans emerged victorious with a 118-108 win, even though they were 5.5-point underdogs. Jordan Hawkins, a rookie for the Pelicans, led the team with 34 points, while Kyrie Irving stood out for Dallas with 33 points. New Orleans currently holds the 6th spot in the Western Conference, with Dallas right behind in 7th. This will be the final game between these teams this season, with the Pelicans leading the series 2-1. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:30 PM EST at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. New Orleans has opened as the betting favorite with a -3.5 point spread, which has since shifted to New Orleans -4.

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Pelicans -169 | Mavericks +145

Spread: Pelicans -4 (-110) | Mavericks +4 (-110)

Total: Over/Under 236 (-110)

Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that New Orleans will win straight-up is 63%.

New Orleans Pelicans

Despite the absence of their three best players, the New Orleans Pelicans managed to secure a victory against the Dallas Mavericks in their first of two consecutive matchups. Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, and CJ McCollum were unable to play due to injuries, but they are listed as probable for the next game. In their absence, the Pelicans' reserves stepped up, with Jordan Hawkins leading the team in scoring with 34 points, while six other players also scored in double figures. When all three stars are healthy, Zion Williamson is their leading scorer, averaging 22.0 points per game, along with 5.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists. Ingram closely follows Zion in scoring with 21.7 points per game and leads the team in assists with 5.4 per game. However, Ingram's scoring has dipped in recent games, failing to score 20 or more points in his last six games. CJ McCollum is the team's top shooter, making 3.5 three-pointers per game and shooting 44.4% from deep, contributing 19.4 points per game. Jonas Valanciunas has been a consistent presence as the team's starting center, averaging 14.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. Herb Jones provides a defensive boost on the wing, adding 10.8 points per game. Meanwhile, rookie Jordan Hawkins has impressed with a strong season, scoring 34 points in the last game and averaging 10.7 points per game. Trey Murphy III has dealt with some injuries but contributes 13.3 points per game when healthy. According to dunksandthrees.com, the Pelicans rank 12th in offensive efficiency and 7th in defensive efficiency. In terms of pace of play, they rank 16th in the league. The injury report suggests that Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, and Trey Murphy III are all likely to return. With a power ranking of 4, the New Orleans Pelicans are ranked 11th in offense, scoring an average of 116.36 points per game, and rank 9th in defense, allowing an average of 111.79 points to be scored against them. Offensively, they shoot 48.63% from the field (ranked 8th), 76.66% from the free-throw line (ranked 22nd), and make 38.25%