Doncic leads Dallas into matchup against New Orleans

Sat, Jan 7, 2023
NBA News (AP)

New Orleans Pelicans (24-15, third in the Western Conference) vs. Dallas Mavericks (22-17, fourth in the Western Conference)

Dallas; Saturday, 8 p.m. EST

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE: Mavericks -7; over/under is 225.5

BOTTOM LINE: Luka Doncic leads Dallas into a matchup with New Orleans. He leads the league scoring 34.0 points per game.

The Mavericks are 16-6 in conference matchups. Dallas scores 112.1 points while outscoring opponents by 1.5 points per game.

The Pelicans are 7-2 against opponents in the Southwest Division. New Orleans is fifth in the Western Conference scoring 54.7 points per game in the paint led by Zion Williamson averaging 19.1.

The teams square off for the second time this season. The Pelicans won the last matchup 113-111 on Oct. 25, with Trey Murphy III scoring 22 points in the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Doncic averages 2.9 made 3-pointers per game for the Mavericks, scoring 34.0 points while shooting 35.2% from beyond the arc. Christian Wood is shooting 52.0% and averaging 17.3 points over the last 10 games for Dallas.

CJ McCollum is shooting 39.7% from beyond the arc with 2.9 made 3-pointers per game for the Pelicans, while averaging 20.4 points and six assists. Williamson is averaging 22 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists over the last 10 games for New Orleans.

LAST 10 GAMES: Mavericks: 7-3, averaging 113.2 points, 39.8 rebounds, 21.5 assists, 6.0 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.6 points per game.

Pelicans: 6-4, averaging 116.5 points, 47.5 rebounds, 23.9 assists, 8.1 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.9 points.

INJURIES: Mavericks: Maxi Kleber: out (hamstring), Josh Green: out (elbow), Dorian Finney-Smith: out (adductor), Luka Doncic: day to day (ankle).

Pelicans: E.J. Liddell: out (right knee), Zion Williamson: out (hamstring), Brandon Ingram: out (toe).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.