The Dallas Mavericks travel to Louisiana to face the New Orleans Pelicans on March 16, 2026, in an NBA regular-season clash at the Smoothie King Center. Both teams have endured difficult seasons and currently sit near the bottom of the Western Conference standings, but the matchup still offers an opportunity for each side to gain momentum heading into the final weeks of the campaign.
Dallas arrives in New Orleans with renewed confidence after pulling off a surprising road win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. That victory helped the Mavericks break out of a difficult stretch in which they lost eight straight games. While Dallas still holds one of the league’s weaker records, the performance against Cleveland showed that the team can still produce strong offensive basketball when its young players step up.
The Pelicans, meanwhile, have shown signs of improvement recently. New Orleans has won four of its last six games and continues to compete hard despite injuries earlier in the season. The team’s recent performances have been fueled by efficient scoring and fast-paced offense, particularly when playing at home. Trey Murphy III has emerged as one of the most dangerous perimeter shooters on the roster, while the team has also relied on strong inside scoring and transition play.
These two teams have already faced each other several times this season, with New Orleans winning two of the three matchups. Their most recent meeting in December ended with a 119-113 Pelicans victory. Historically, however, Dallas still holds the overall advantage in the rivalry.
With both teams struggling to maintain consistency and dealing with injuries, the game could turn into a high-energy battle where scoring runs and perimeter shooting determine the final result. New Orleans enters as the favorite, especially with Dallas playing its second game in two nights.
Match Information
| Match | Dallas Mavericks vs New Orleans Pelicans |
|---|---|
| League | NBA Regular Season |
| Date | March 16, 2026 |
| Venue | Smoothie King Center |
| City | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Tip-off Time | 8:00 PM ET |
| Broadcast | KFAA, GCSEN |
Current Standings Snapshot
| Team | Record | Conference Position |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Mavericks | 23–45 | Bottom half West |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 22–46 | Bottom half West |
Both teams are outside the playoff race and focusing on finishing the season competitively.
Mavericks vs Pelicans Odds
| Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Spread | Mavericks +8.5 |
| Spread | Pelicans -8.5 |
| Moneyline | Mavericks +280 |
| Moneyline | Pelicans -355 |
| Total Points | 239.5 |
Oddsmakers have listed New Orleans as the home favorite for this matchup.
Head-to-Head Record
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| All-Time Meetings | Mavericks lead 33–21 |
| Last Meeting | Pelicans 119 – Mavericks 113 |
| 2025-26 Season Series | Pelicans lead 2-1 |
New Orleans has had the edge in the most recent matchups this season.
Recent Form
Dallas Mavericks – Last 5 Games
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 16 | vs Cavaliers | Win 130-120 |
| Mar 14 | vs Cavaliers | Loss 105-138 |
| Mar 13 | vs Grizzlies | Win 120-112 |
| Mar 11 | vs Hawks | Loss 112-124 |
| Mar 09 | vs Raptors | Loss 92-122 |
Dallas has won two of its last three games after a long losing streak earlier in the month.
New Orleans Pelicans – Last 5 Games
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 14 | vs Rockets | Loss 105-107 |
| Mar 12 | vs Raptors | Win 122-111 |
| Mar 09 | vs Wizards | Win 138-118 |
| Mar 07 | vs Suns | Loss 116-118 |
| Mar 06 | vs Kings | Win 133-123 |
New Orleans has won three of its last five games and has been strong offensively.
Injury Report
Dallas Mavericks
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Kyrie Irving | Out |
| Dereck Lively II | Out |
| Klay Thompson | Questionable |
| Daniel Gafford | Questionable |
Dallas continues to deal with injuries that have weakened its rotation.
New Orleans Pelicans
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Trey Alexander | Out |
| Hunter Dickinson | Out |
| Bryce McGowens | Out |
| Dejounte Murray | Questionable |
| Josh Oduro | Out |
New Orleans is also managing several injury concerns.
Projected Starting Lineups
Dallas Mavericks
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| PG | Cooper Flagg |
| SG | Max Christie |
| SF | Naji Marshall |
| PF | P.J. Washington |
| C | Daniel Gafford |
New Orleans Pelicans
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| PG | Dejounte Murray |
| SG | Herbert Jones |
| SF | Trey Murphy III |
| PF | Zion Williamson |
| C | Saddiq Bey |
Key Player Stats
Dallas Mavericks
| Player | Key Impact |
|---|---|
| Cooper Flagg | 20.2 PPG rookie season |
| P.J. Washington | Interior scoring |
| Naji Marshall | Defensive energy |
Flagg has been Dallas’ most consistent scorer during recent games.
New Orleans Pelicans
| Player | Key Impact |
|---|---|
| Trey Murphy III | Elite three-point shooter |
| Zion Williamson | Interior scoring and physical play |
| Dejounte Murray | Playmaking and leadership |
Murphy has been particularly dangerous from long range in recent games.
Team Performance Comparison
| Category | Mavericks | Pelicans |
|---|---|---|
| Points per Game | 113.2 | 115.4 |
| Defensive Rating | Below average | Below average |
| Three-Point Shooting | 34.2% | 34.6% |
| Playing Style | Transition offense | Fast-paced scoring |
Both teams rely heavily on offensive bursts rather than strong defensive structure.
Key Betting Trends
| Trend | Insight |
|---|---|
| Pelicans ATS as Favorites | Strong record |
| Mavericks Road Games | Many games trend UNDER |
| Head-to-Head | Recent meetings lower scoring |
| Season Matchups | All three games finished under 233 points |
Recent matchups between the teams have typically produced lower scoring totals.
Players to Watch
Dallas Mavericks
- Cooper Flagg
- P.J. Washington
- Naji Marshall
New Orleans Pelicans
- Trey Murphy III
- Zion Williamson
- Dejounte Murray
These players could play decisive roles in the game’s outcome.
Best Picks for Mavericks vs Pelicans
| Market | Pick |
|---|---|
| Spread | Pelicans -8.5 |
| Total Points | Under 239 |
| Player Prop | Trey Murphy III Over 3.5 Three-Pointers |
| Player Prop | Cooper Flagg Over 20.5 Points |
New Orleans’ home advantage and Dallas’ fatigue from a back-to-back game give the Pelicans a strong edge.
Predicted Score
| Team | Score Prediction |
|---|---|
| New Orleans Pelicans | 118 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 108 |
Final Prediction
Both teams have struggled with consistency this season, but the Pelicans appear to have slightly better momentum entering this matchup. New Orleans has been playing more confident basketball recently and has already shown success against Dallas in earlier meetings this season.
The Mavericks are coming off an emotional win over Cleveland, but playing the second game of a back-to-back could make it difficult to maintain the same energy level. Injuries have also limited Dallas’ roster depth.
If Trey Murphy III continues his strong three-point shooting and New Orleans controls the pace early, the Pelicans should be able to secure a comfortable home victory.
Prediction: New Orleans Pelicans win and cover the spread.
