New Orleans Pelicans vs Dallas Mavericks Picks and Predictions January 29th 2025

Mavericks and Pelicans Clash Again as Their Paths Diverge

Just two weeks ago, the New Orleans Pelicans edged out the Dallas Mavericks with a narrow 119-116 victory. However, as they prepare to meet again on Wednesday night, both teams find themselves on different trajectories. While Dallas has started to find its footing, New Orleans is struggling to maintain its momentum.

Mavericks Gaining Steam Despite Road Struggles

The January 15 loss in New Orleans marked the Mavericks’ third straight defeat, but since then, they have posted a 3-3 record, including two statement wins over Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City. That night, Dallas was without both Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, but Irving has since returned, helping stabilize the team’s offense.

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In their most recent outing against the Washington Wizards on Monday, Irving had a quiet night with just 13 points, but Klay Thompson stepped up in a big way. Thompson drilled 7 of 12 three-pointers on his way to a game-high 23 points, leading Dallas to a dominant 130-108 victory. The Mavericks shot an impressive 53.3 percent from the field and connected on 44.4 percent of their three-point attempts (20-of-45), displaying the type of ball movement that makes them dangerous.

Thompson emphasized the importance of team-wide efficiency, especially when playing without their star players.

“It’s something we have to do to be successful with our best players out. We rely on Kyrie so much, as we should, because he’s one of the greatest iso scorers in the history of the game, but it’s on the rest of us to make it easier for him.”

Thompson’s hot shooting was the catalyst for Dallas’ fast start against Washington, tying Dončić’s franchise record for most three-pointers in a single quarter. His 7-of-10 performance from beyond the arc helped the Mavericks build a commanding 42-16 lead by the end of the first quarter, effectively putting the game out of reach early.

“It just felt great because we needed a win where we put a team away early. It’s been a while since we had one, so it’s nice to kind of do that collectively.”

Despite the win, Dallas has struggled on the road, losing six of its last seven away games. Wednesday’s matchup marks the start of a five-game road trip, a stretch that will test their resilience.

Pelicans Trying to Reverse Their Slide

On the other side, the Pelicans’ promising four-game winning streak that included the victory over Dallas has since faded into a three-game losing streak. Their most recent loss came against the Toronto Raptors, where they fell 113-104 to complete a winless road trip. The losses—against Toronto, Memphis, and Charlotte—were particularly lopsided, with an average margin of defeat of 17.7 points.

New Orleans’ biggest issue during this slump has been their shooting. Against Toronto, they managed just 43.8 percent from the field and a dismal 6-of-28 (21.4 percent) from three-point range—one of their worst performances from beyond the arc this season.

Head coach Willie Green acknowledged the offensive struggles but remained optimistic about the team’s shot selection.

“Offensively we just didn’t have our normal game that we’ve been having over the last 10 or so games. We got some quality looks. We just didn’t knock them down. Sometimes that happens. You’ve got to make some of those shots and finish some of those possessions.”

One bright spot for New Orleans was Zion Williamson, who delivered a dominant performance with 31 points on an efficient 13-of-18 shooting. His ability to attack the basket and generate scoring opportunities remains crucial for the Pelicans’ success.

CJ McCollum praised Williamson’s aggressiveness but also pointed out an area that needs improvement.

“He’s being ultra-aggressive, getting to the rim, getting downhill, getting us in the bonus early, which makes it easier on everybody else. But we’ve got to make our free throws.”

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Indeed, the Pelicans struggled at the free-throw line, converting just 20 of 30 attempts. Williamson went 5-of-8, while McCollum missed two of his four attempts, making it even harder for New Orleans to keep pace.

History Between the Teams

Wednesday’s matchup will be the third of four meetings between the Mavericks and Pelicans this season. While New Orleans took the last contest, Dallas dominated their first encounter on November 19, winning 132-91. The final meeting between these teams will take place on February 21 in Dallas.

As the Pelicans look to snap their losing streak and the Mavericks aim to improve their road woes, this game presents an opportunity for both teams to prove they can overcome adversity. Will Dallas continue its offensive resurgence, or will New Orleans rediscover the rhythm that led them to victory last time? The answer will unfold on the court.