Mavericks vs. Pelicans Preview: 3 notes as Dallas travels to New Orleans
The Pels had gained seven of 10 till their 107-105 loss on the Houston Rockets on Friday.
The Mavericks could not have a lot left to give within the second back-to-back set within the final 5 days, however, hell, how a lot fuel did they’ve left touring to Cleveland on Sunday for his or her third sport in 4 days? That gorgeous win was proof that something can occur in an NBA sport.
Dallas is on the tail finish of a brutal scheduling stretch that may see them play 9 video games in simply 14 days. The Mavs have gone 2-6 of their first eight video games of that stretch and can have traveled greater than 2,000 miles criss-crossing the nation when it comes to an finish after Monday’s sport in New Orleans.
The Pelicans, in the meantime, have been twiddling their feathers, ready on the Mavericks to arrive since they obtained dwelling following Friday’s loss at Houston.
Cooper will get on the great foot
Cooper Flagg has been on a tear in his final two video games after struggling a little bit in his first 5 video games again from a foot pressure. He scored 25 factors and dished 5 assists in Friday’s 138-105 loss to the Cavaliers at American Airlines Centerthen one-upped himself the second time round with 27 factors and 10 dimes in Sunday’s win. He’s shot 18-of-33 (54.5%) from the sphere in these final two, in contrast to 33-of-94 (35.1%) in his first 5 video games since getting back from the foot damage.
He’s had enormous second halves in each of these final two video games as properly. It’ll be attention-grabbing to see if he can get going a little bit earlier in opposition to the Pels on Monday. Flagg has scored 20 or extra in two of the three video games the Mavs have performed in opposition to New Orleans up to now this 12 months. His 29-point, seven-rebound sport in opposition to the Pelicans on Nov. 21 was one of many first “wow” moments of his spectacular rookie 12 months.
The Mavs come into Monday’s sport with the seventh-worst report within the NBA, and the Pelicans are one sport worse than Dallas, sitting at sixth within the Tankathon standings. The Mavericks would transfer previous New Orleans within the race for higher NBA Draft Lottery odds with a loss on Monday, due to shedding the season collection with the Pelicans, 1-3.
A win on Monday would inch the Mavs ever nearer to the Memphis Grizzlies, who’re within the eighth slot within the Tankathon standings. It appears a little bit perverse to root on your workforce to lose, but when ever there have been a sport you would not thoughts Dallas to lose, it could be Monday’s at New Orleans.
The Mavericks and the Pelicans will tip off at 7 pm CDT from Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The sport can be televised regionally on KFAA Channel 29 and on sister stations all through the Mavs’ regional viewership space. The stream can be on MavsTV and on NBA League Pass the place out there.
