Mavericks at Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans just got above .500 and have no intention of going backward. In order to stay above the break-even point, the Pelicans will have to solve the Dallas Mavericks, who visit on Sunday and have taken nine straight in the series. The Mavericks had a three-game winning streak come to an end with a 102-98 home loss to the Chicago Bulls on Friday and will need to figure out a way to deal with Anthony Davis and Omer Asik on the glass.
Dallas was outrebounded 47-30 by the Bulls and grabbed a season-low 29 boards while squeezing out a 112-107 home victory over the Pelicans on Dec. 10. “You know, we’ve just got to get a little bit better,” Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki told reporters. “We’re not the most physical, athletic front line, so we’ve all got to get in there and get a couple (of rebounds) and pick up a couple of those long ones here or there. I always think that when we keep the board game sort of close and keep it within range we give ourselves a chance to win.” Davis had 12 rebounds in New Orleans’ 92-84 win at Minnesota on Friday.
TV: 6 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (Dallas), FSN New Orleans
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (30-14): The Mavericks made one of the bigger trade moves of the first half of the season by bringing in point guard Rajon Rondo from Boston, but the former All-Star is struggling of late. Rondo is averaging 5.8 points on 33.3 percent shooting in the last four games and was benched in the final five minutes on Friday. “Coach made a decision. It's as simple as that,” Rondo told reporters. “I've been in this game a long time. It's not like it's the end of the world. I like what Coach Carlisle has done for me this year. I don't have any regrets.”
ABOUT THE PELICANS (22-21): New Orleans is 13-5 in its own building and is kicking off a six-game homestand against the Mavericks. Eric Gordon’s healthy return to the lineup is helping to cover for the loss of Jrue Holiday (leg) and is providing a big boost offensively as the shooting guard is putting up 15.3 points while shooting 40.4 percent from 3-point range in the last 10 games. Gordon is starting in the backcourt alongside Tyreke Evans, who exemplifies the Pelicans’ home-road issues with averages of 20.6 points on 49 percent shooting at home versus 14.5 points on 38.7 on the road.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle needs one win to join San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich, Los Angeles’ Doc Rivers and Minnesota’s Flip Saunders as the only active coaches with 600 career wins.
2. New Orleans F Ryan Anderson (ankle inflammation) missed Friday’s game but could return on Sunday.
3. Nowitzki is averaging 21.5 points on 55.6 percent shooting in the last four games, including 10-of-18 from 3-point range.