2026-10-14 · 7:00 PM CT · Preseason
New Orleans Pelicans26-56
Dallas Mavericks26-56ESPN standings data retrieved October 6, 2026. NBA comparisons use the completed 2025–26 regular season. Each upcoming fixture labels preseason or regular-season status.
New Orleans Pelicans2025–26 regular season
| Measure | Season average | League rank |
|---|---|---|
| STANDARD STATS | ||
| Points / game | 115.5 | 16 / 30 |
| Rebounds / game | 43.9 | 15 / 30 |
| Assists / game | 25.1 | 24 / 30 |
| Turnovers / game | 13.5 | 11 / 30 |
| Steals / game | 8.9 | 9 / 30 |
| Blocks / game | 5.2 | 9 / 30 |
| FG% | 46.6% | 20 / 30 |
| 3PT% | 34.7% | 24 / 30 |
| FT% | 78.4% | 14 / 30 |
| THE LAB MEASURES | ||
| eFG% | 52.7% | 27 / 30 |
| Turnover rate | 11.7% | 10 / 30 |
| Offensive rebound rate | — | — |
| Free-throw pressure | 0.284 | 8 / 30 |
Dallas Mavericks2025–26 regular season
| Measure | Season average | League rank |
|---|---|---|
| STANDARD STATS | ||
| Points / game | 114.1 | 23 / 30 |
| Rebounds / game | 44.7 | 10 / 30 |
| Assists / game | 25.3 | 22 / 30 |
| Turnovers / game | 14.0 | 18 / 30 |
| Steals / game | 7.5 | 24 / 30 |
| Blocks / game | 5.2 | 10 / 30 |
| FG% | 46.6% | 19 / 30 |
| 3PT% | 34.4% | 26 / 30 |
| FT% | 75.5% | 28 / 30 |
| THE LAB MEASURES | ||
| eFG% | 52.7% | 28 / 30 |
| Turnover rate | 12.1% | 14 / 30 |
| Offensive rebound rate | — | — |
| Free-throw pressure | 0.287 | 6 / 30 |
ESPN team totals and game box scores checked October 6. NBA season averages and ranks use 2025–26; preseason game results are shown separately. Ranks are within the league, with ties sharing a rank; a lower turnover rate is better. Season offensive rebound rate needs opponent defensive-rebound totals, which this feed does not supply. A dash means unavailable. This game’s offensive rebound rate uses the opponent’s actual rebounds.
eFG% gives a made three its extra value. Turnover rate estimates the share of plays lost before a shot. Offensive rebound rate is the share of available offensive rebounds collected. Free-throw pressure is FTA/FGA. The calculations are (FGM + 0.5 × 3PM)/FGA; TOV/(FGA + 0.44 × FTA + TOV); OREB/(OREB + opponent DREB); and FTA/FGA.
This is preseason. Use the team numbers as background and watch how the new lineups play together. No spread or Lab win probability is published for this game.
Last season 26-56 | 11th in the West | Missed postseason
2025-26 efficiency 113.3 offense | 117.6 defense | -4.4 net per 100 possessions
New Orleans finished 11th at 26-56 and missed the postseason. A minus-4.4 net rating reflected trouble at both ends. The Pelicans took a league-high 58 percent of their shots in the paint, yet their team conversion there was poor. Getting close to the basket and getting a useful attempt are different accomplishments.
Joe Dumars hired Jamahl Mosley and added Bennedict Mathurin, AJ Johnson and Trendon Watford. Mathurin supplies scoring and free-throw pressure. Dejounte Murray's return gives the existing group a more experienced organizer, while Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen enter their second seasons. Trey Murphy and Zion Williamson remain important offensive pieces around that developing foundation.
The front office has largely retained the core that produced 26 wins. That places a considerable burden on Mosley to improve a defense that allowed 117.6 points per 100 possessions and on the young players to become more efficient. Mathurin's ability to draw fouls helps, but does not by itself resolve paint congestion or lineup defense. Herbert Jones rediscovering his defensive impact would matter more than simply adding another scorer.
Projected finish is 12th in the West. Better organization and internal growth should make New Orleans more competitive, but the defensive evidence is still too weak for a playoff prediction. There is a plausible path into the Play-In race. It starts with a functioning five-man defense and ends with better conversion from the shots this team already prefers.
Last season 26-56 | 12th in the West | Missed postseason, Flagg won Rookie of the Year
2025-26 efficiency 110.3 offense | 115.5 defense | -5.2 net per 100 possessions
Dallas finished 12th at 26-56, but Cooper Flagg's Rookie of the Year season supplied a clear direction. The team ranked 27th offensively, and its transition success concealed the league's worst half-court efficiency. Running faster could produce good stretches. It could not solve the possessions that began against an organized defense.
Masai Ujiri took over the basketball operation and hired Dusty May. Santi Aldama, Zaccharie Risacher and Marcus Sasser give the roster younger supporting options, and Kyrie Irving returns after missing a season. Irving is the clearest route to improving half-court creation without asking Flagg to manufacture every advantage himself. Aldama can also help make the frontcourt easier to space.
The unresolved question is whether management is building a coherent team around Flagg's development or preserving several competing timelines. Irving helps immediately, but his role and long-term place matter. Risacher needs to become a useful rotation wing, not simply a former first pick with another chance. May also has to find combinations that avoid crowding Flagg's drives. More pace cannot replace spacing when the opponent gets back.
Projected finish is 11th in the West. We expect an offensive improvement and a second-year step from Flagg, without assuming an immediate star leap large enough to erase every roster weakness. Dallas is a reasonable Play-In challenger if Irving's return goes well. A meaningful season would establish which players make Flagg more effective and belong in the next version of the team.
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