Pelicans vs Mavericks Picks and Predictions: Dallas Rebounds From Flat Loss

The New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Maverick square off at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Saturday night. 

New Orleans has been bitten by the injury bug again, as Zion Williamson will be sidelined until at least late January due to a hamstring injury. The Pels have dropped three of the past four games, while also going just 1-3 ATS, as they have not adjusted well without the big man.

Dallas is hopping mad after getting embarrassed on its home court by the Celtics last time out, falling 124-95.

Can the Pelicans show some signs of life without Zion, or will the angry Mavericks exact some revenge and get back on track? We’ll discuss in our NBA betting picks for Pelicans vs. Mavericks on Saturday, January 7.

Pelicans vs Mavericks best odds

Pelicans vs Mavericks picks and predictions

The Pelicans still sit nine games above .500 at 24-15, but they haven’t done very well away from the Crescent City, going 7-10. That includes losses in five of the past six on the road, with the lone exception an overtime victory against the lowly Thunder on December 23.

The Mavericks were cruising along through the holidays, winning seven straight games from December 21 to January 2, but the Celtics hammered the Mavs 124-95 to send Dallas crashing back to Earth.

The 95 points for the Mavs were the lowest points since December 14, a home loss against the Cavaliers. In the setback to the C’s, the Mavs shot just 38 percent (34-for-90), while connecting on just 22% (7-for-32) from behind the arc.

Even budding superstar Luka Doncic struggled, hitting just 7 of 23 from the field, including an 0-for-6 night from downtown, although he still ended up with 23 thanks to a 9-for-11 night from the free-throw line. Expect Doncic to bounce back against the very giving Pels.

The Mavericks have been playing much better basketball lately, sans for the Boston game, while the Pelicans still haven’t managed to figure it out with Zion back on the shelf.

Neither team has really been very good against the number lately, but the fact this one is in Dallas, and the Mavs were embarrassed last time out, bank on Dallas firing out of the chute and leading this one wire to wire.

My best bet: Mavericks -6.5 (-118 at SportsInteraction)

Pelicans vs Mavericks spread analysis

The Pelicans are a dismal 1-5 ATS in the past six games on the road while going just 1-4 ATS in the past five against teams with a winning overall record.

The Mavericks haven’t really done much against the number lately, either, cashing in just one of the past five games overall, while going 6-14-1 ATS in the past 21 games against winning teams. However, after an embarrassing loss, Dallas is 17-5 ATS in the past 22 games following a straight-up loss of 10 or more points. That’s the trend to remember here.

The last time Dallas lost by 10 points, 116-106 in Minnesota on December 19, it returned two days later in a back-to-back situation and won outright in Minneapolis by a 104-99 score against the Timberwolves. 

Dallas has won five of the past six meetings in Big D against New Orleans, going 4-2 ATS in the previous six meetings in Dallas. Expect a Mavs cover. 

Pelicans vs Mavericks Over/Under analysis

The Pelicans will have some issues trying to solve the Mavericks' defense, which allows just 110.6 PPG, No. 5 in the NBA. The Mavs are decent guarding against the three, as well, holding the opposition to 35.6%, No. 12 overall.

Surprisingly, the Mavs’ offense has had its issues despite having one of the brightest stars in the NBA. Dallas ranks just No. 20 in The Association, posting 112.1 PPG, and it is so-so from the field and from behind the arc. The Mavs are an atrocious free-throw shooting team, too, ranking No. 27 with a 74.2% mark, which makes Over bettors sometimes pull out their collective hair.

New Orleans is a solid offensive team, ranking No. 5 with 117.1 PPG, but a lot of that production is with Zion on the floor. When he is on the shelf, so is his team-leading 26.0 PPG, which is a huge loss. 

Expect a higher-scoring affair, as Dallas takes advantage of the big man being sidelined. As it stands, the Over is 8-3 in the past 11 games for NOLA and 4-1 in the past five on the road. The Over is 4-1 in the past five at home for Dallas and 4-0 in the past four against teams with a winning overall mark.

Over with the Mavs laying the points makes for a wonderful parlay opportunity.

Pelicans vs Mavericks betting trend to know

The Over has cashed in 13 of the past 19 meetings between these two Western Conference foes. Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Mavericks.

Pelicans vs Mavericks game info

Pelicans vs Mavericks key injuries

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