New Orleans @ Dallas preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 3, 2019 ) Dallas 118, New Orleans 97

The Dallas Mavericks had little trouble with New Orleans on the road in a 118-97 victory Tuesday and will look to post another win when they host the Pelicans at home on Saturday. The Mavericks are winners of four straight and nine of their last 10 games.

Dallas star Luka Doncic took control with 33 points, 18 rebounds and five assists in the win at New Orleans but it was the rest of the roster that shined in a 121-114 home victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves the next night. Power forward Dwight Powell (24 points on 9-of-9 shooting) and guard Jalen Brunson (16 on 7-of-8) both recorded season highs in scoring against the Timberwolves in the opener of a five-game homestand, which includes a game in Mexico City next week against the Detroit Pistons. The Pelicans followed up their setback against Dallas with a 139-132 overtime home loss to the Phoenix Suns on Thursday and are losers of seven straight. New Orleans committed 24 turnovers in its latest setback and the team enters play on Friday 27th in the league in turnovers (15.8).

TV: 2 p.m. ET, FS New Orleans, FS Southwest (Dallas)

ABOUT THE PELICANS (6-16): New Orleans forward Brandon Ingram needed six stitches to close a gash over his right eye in the third quarter on Thursday and returned in time to help the team outscore Phoenix 34-18 in the fourth quarter to force overtime. "I just wanted to fight with my team," Ingram told reporters. "I've been through way worse [stuff] than just getting my head hit on whatever kind of floor it is. To be with my team and play the game of basketball is my profession and that's something I would love to do." Ingram finished with 21 points in the loss and scored 20 or more in all but one game this season - a loss at Oklahoma City on Nov. 2 in which he scored seven points in 15 minutes before leaving with an injury.

ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (15-6): Wednesday marked the first time since Oct. 29 that Doncic did not lead the team in scoring as the MVP candidate was held to 22 points on 8-of-22 shooting. Doncic is averaging 30.3 points, 10.1 rebounds and 9.1 assists and Wednesday marked just the sixth time this season that he didn't record at least a double-double. Forward Kristaps Porzingis scored 19 points on Wednesday while playing in his first back-to-back set of games since prior to a knee injury that robbed him of the entire 2018-19 season, and Dallas is set to play a home back-to-back this weekend with the Sacramento Kings visiting on Sunday.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Powell left in the fourth quarter on Wednesday with a wrist contusion and is day-to-day.

2. Pelicans PG Lonzo Ball scored a season-high 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting Wednesday.

3. New Orleans earned 129-125 overtime victory in its last trip to Dallas on March 18.

PREDICTION: Mavericks 126, Pelicans 113