Pelicans at Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks attempt to avoid a winless three-game homestand when they host the struggling New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night. The Mavericks allowed an average of 105 points in losing to Toronto and Charlotte in the last two contests, and have sputtered at times in the offensive end over the first five games – shooting 41.2 percent from the field.
“We’ve played poorly in two consecutive games,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle told the Dallas Morning News. “I don’t think it’s necessarily an effort thing as much as we’ve got to get more physical.” The Mavericks look to take advantage of injury-plagued New Orleans, which dropped a 121-115 decision to Atlanta at home Friday for their fifth straight loss to open the campaign. All-Star Anthony Davis broke out with a career high-matching 43 points in that contest for the Pelicans, who will host Dallas on Tuesday. First-year New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry would like his team to push the tempo and the Pelicans will try to build on Friday’s 68-point second half.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FSN New Orleans, FSN Southwest (Dallas)
ABOUT THE PELICANS (0-5): Guard Eric Gordon has posted at least 20 points in three of the last four games, including 22 in Friday’s defeat on 8-for-15 shooting from the field. Point guard Jrue Holiday, who is averaging 13 points in four games, is likely to sit out Saturday in the second of a back-to-back as he continues to be limited while recovering from a leg injury. Center Omer Asik (calf strain) missed the last two games after making his 2015-16 debut Oct. 31 against Golden State and his status is uncertain for Saturday.
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (2-3): Chandler Parsons, who averaged 15.7 points last season, is on a minutes-restriction in the early going while he recovers from knee surgery and has not added much to the offense. Parsons is 5-for-17 from the field in three games – averaging 4.3 points – while veteran Dirk Nowitzki (16.8) is the only player scoring at least 13 per contest. Off-season acquisition Zaza Pachulia is contributing 9.6 points and a team-best 9.4 rebounds, but the center is shooting just 36.1 percent from the field.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Mavericks have won 10 of the last 11 meetings, including three of the four contests last season.
2. Davis, who recently became the third New Orleans player to score 4,000 points, has 101 double-doubles in 204 career games and is slated to make his 200th start Saturday.
3. Dallas F Dwight Powell, who averaged 3.4 points in 24 games last season for Mavericks, has scored at least eight in each game off the bench.