The Dallas Mavericks return home looking to halt a two-game skid as they face the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night at American Airlines Center. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT, with the game airing locally on WFAA and streaming on MavsTV.
The Mavericks (2–5) are working through an early-season stretch defined by injuries and lineup adjustments. They remain without three starters — Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and Dereck Lively II — along with Danté Exum. Despite the adversity, head coach Jason Kidd has continued to emphasize long-term growth, focusing on internal development over early results.
New Orleans (1–6) enters the matchup fresh off its first win of the season Tuesday, a 116–112 victory over the Charlotte Hornets that snapped an 0–6 start. Zion Williamson missed that game and will remain out for at least a week with a strained left hamstring.
How to Watch Dallas Mavericks vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 5
Time: 7:30 p.m. CT
Location: American Airlines Center — Dallas, TX
TV: WFAA (Local), MavsTV Stream
Radio: 97.1 FM The Eagle / 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)
Tickets: Mavs.com
Social: Follow @DallasMavs and @MavsPR on X
Preview powered by Gameshub.com.
Dallas Mavericks Injury Report vs. New Orleans Pelicans:
- Anthony Davis: Out (Left Calf Strain)
- Dereck Lively II: Out (Right Knee Sprain)
- Kyrie Irving: Out (Left Knee Surgery)
- Danté Exum: Out (Right Knee Injury Management)
With both Davis and Lively sidelined, Daniel Gafford, Dwight Powell, and Moussa Cissé are the only healthy centers available. Dallas has been out-rebounded in consecutive losses and will again look for improved physicality in the paint while continuing to lean on P.J. Washington’s scoring and leadership.
New Orleans Pelicans Injury Report vs. Dallas Mavericks:
- Jordan Poole: Questionable (Left Knee Soreness)
- Yves Missi: Out (Illness)
- Zion Williamson: Out (Left Hamstring Strain)
- Dejounte Murray: Out (Right Achilles Rupture)
- Hunter Dickinson: Out (G League: Two-Way)
- Trey Alexandr: Out (G League: Two-Way)
New Orleans is playing on the second night of a back-to-back after Tuesday’s win over Charlotte.
Early Battle Sets Stage for Tight Finish
Despite the depleted lineup, the Mavericks came out aggressive and dictated the pace early. Washington’s assertiveness against Houston’s zone fueled Dallas’ offense, while Daniel Gafford and Christie capitalized on early transition opportunities.
“They were in a zone,” Washington said. “I was just trying to attack the little guy. I’m very comfortable in the middle of the zone, so I was just trying to be aggressive. My teammates need me to be aggressive, so that’s what I tried to do.”
Flagg gave Dallas a major lift in the second quarter, scoring 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including two three-pointers. The 18-year-old banked in a triple from the top of the key in the final minute of the half and smiled as he backpedaled down the floor — a rare moment of ease amid a stretch where the Mavericks had struggled to find consistent offense.
But the Rockets’ size and cutting punished Dallas inside. Şengün and Thompson combined for a highlight sequence midway through the second quarter when Thompson saved a loose ball, leading to a reverse alley-oop from Şengün that ignited the home crowd. By halftime, Houston led 61–58 with 36 points in the paint and a 30–21 rebounding edge.
After the break, Washington scored 10 of the Mavericks’ first 15 points of the third quarter to give Dallas a brief lead. His physical drives and floater game kept the Mavericks close while Gafford anchored the defense with timely blocks. Still, Houston’s second-chance points and interior efficiency proved costly.
“I think we’re starting to make more shots and play together better,” Washington said. “Obviously, we didn’t get the outcome we wanted, but things are moving in the right direction offensively. Defensively, we’ve got to be better. Too many points in the paint and way too many fouls. We’ve got a lot of work to do on that end.”
P.J. Washington Leads, but Dallas Mavericks Fade Late
The game remained tight until the final four minutes. Durant buried consecutive three-pointers to put Houston ahead 99–94, but Washington’s and-one finish tied it at 99 with 3:58 to play. From there, Dallas went cold. Şengün’s spin move over Gafford gave Houston a 105–102 lead with 90 seconds remaining, and Thompson’s late free throws and block on Flagg sealed it.
“We started trapping and got a little loose on our rotations,” Washington said. “They went to the line a few times. We came down trying to get into a pick-and-roll and make a play, but it didn’t go our way. We’ve got to be better in those situations—get better shots and execute down the stretch.”
Despite the loss, Washington said the group is learning to stay composed in late-game situations while key veterans remain sidelined.
“It means a lot,” Washington said about Daniel Gafford fighting through injury. “He wants to be out there with us. We’re glad he’s back—we missed him. We’ve got to fight with him and bring that energy every night. We played three great quarters, but the fourth could’ve been better. We just need to play a full 48 minutes and close out.”
Asked how the Mavericks can finish games without Irving or Davis, Washington said it starts with matchup recognition.
“Attack the players on the floor that can’t defend as well,” he said. “We did that all night and got good shots, just need to do a better job in crunch time.”
Jason Kidd Credits P.J. Washington, Calls for Team Rebounding
Head coach Jason Kidd credited Washington’s performance but said rebounding and paint defense again determined the outcome. Houston finished with 62 points in the paint and a 50–41 advantage on the glass.
“It’s got to be by committee,” Kidd said. “Sometimes we’re smaller, so everyone has to box out. They crash with everybody, so we’ve got to respond with the same physicality.”
Kidd praised Washington’s effort against Houston’s zone and his ability to impact both ends.
“He did a great job playing in the middle of the zone,” Kidd said. “He was aggressive, got to the free-throw line, and played both sides of the ball. We ask him to guard everyone and score, and he’s doing both. He was definitely a bright spot.”
While Dallas’ shooting cooled in the fourth quarter, Kidd said he saw positive signs from the team’s offensive structure.
“We got good looks, but couldn’t get the stops,” he said. “Some shots we normally make didn’t go down. The plan was to attack and spray the ball, and we executed that for most of the night.”
Kidd also highlighted Flagg’s resilience after injuring his shoulder.
“He played great on both ends,” Kidd said. “In the second half, the ball found P.J., and Cooper made the right reads. He’s showing toughness—fighting through that shoulder issue and still competing. That sets the tone for everyone.”
Daniel Gafford Pushes Through Pain
Daniel Gafford provided stability inside despite dealing with right ankle discomfort. He scored 14 points on 4-of-5 shooting with four rebounds and three blocks, briefly exiting in the third quarter before returning to finish the game.
“Just discomfort,” Gafford said. “Came down wrong, jumped off balance. I walked it off and got back in mentally. Once I felt good running, I was fine.”
He described the battle against Houston’s front line as relentless. “It was a dogfight,” Gafford said. “They’ve got big, physical guys — Steven Adams, Clint Capela, Mo Bamba. You feel like you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders. We knew how physical it’d be, and we battled.”
Gafford said Dallas raised its intensity after halftime to limit second-chance opportunities. “We raised our physicality,” he said. “I told the other bigs to do to them what they were doing to us—push back, hold ground. There was a lot of dirty work under the rim that didn’t get called, so we matched it.”
He also stressed the importance of setting stronger screens for shooters like Klay Thompson. “Better screens get our shooters open, which opens up everything else,” Gafford said. “If Klay gets hot, defenses rotate, and it creates opportunities for everyone.”
Encouraged by his ability to finish the game, Gafford said the focus now shifts to consistency. “Every day in this league is a blessing,” he said. “I don’t take it for granted. I just want to keep getting better and feeling stronger.”
What’s Next
The Mavericks return home Wednesday to host the New Orleans Pelicans, who earned their first win of the season Tuesday night against Charlotte. With Davis, Irving, Lively, and Exum all still out, Kidd said the team must continue emphasizing rebounding, communication, and consistency.
Reflecting on the two-game road trip, Washington said the lessons were straightforward.
“We got beat on the glass both games,” he said. “Just need to be better with paint defense. We’re a little handicapped right now with all the injuries, but as a group we all have to hit the glass more, limit teams to one shot, and get out and run.”
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