Two Southwest division rivals will face each other on Saturday night when the New Orleans Pelicans travel to Dallas, Texas to face the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center with tip-off scheduled for 8:30 PM ET and will air on Bally Sports New Orleans and Bally Sports Southwest.

The New Orleans Pelicans enter this game in 6^th place in the Western Conference with a record of 23-15, however, they are coming off a 113-125 loss on the road against the Denver Nuggets on Friday which also ended their two-game winning streak. New Orleans has been an above-average scoring team as they enter this game averaging 116.45 points per game which ranks 11^th in the NBA. 

Brandon Ingram has been one of the better players on the Pelicans this season as he leads the team in scoring and assists with an average of 22 points and 5.4 assists per game. Defensively, New Orleans has been one of the best teams in the NBA as they are allowing the 5^th fewest points per game with an average of 111.45 points per game. The New Orleans Pelicans will look to bounce back following the loss against the Nuggets when they travel to face the Dallas Mavericks.

Dallas enters this game with the 7^th best record in the Western Conference with a record of 23-16 following a 128-124 win at home against the New York Knicks on Thursday which was their 4^th win in their last five games. The Mavericks have been one of the highest-scoring teams in the league as they enter this game averaging 118.79 points per game which ranks 7^th in the NBA. 

Luka Doncic is one of the best players in the NBA and leads the team in scoring, rebounds, and assists with an average of 33.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game. However, the Mavericks play at a faster tempo than the average team in the NBA which leads them to allow the 11^th most points per game with an average of 117.05 points per game. The Dallas Mavericks will look to build off the momentum following the win against the Knicks when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night.

BookMaker has the Dallas Mavericks listed as 2.5-favorites at home against the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night. Dallas has won six of the last ten while New Orleans has won two of the previous three meetings. The Mavericks are 5-4-1 ATS in the last ten while the Pelicans have covered the spread in two of the previous three games in the series. The New Orleans Pelicans are 22-16-1 ATS overall, 10-7-1 ATS on the road, and 11-6-1 ATS as an underdog this season while the Dallas Mavericks are 22-17 ATS overall, 12-8 ATS at home, and 11-10 ATS as a favorite on the year.

New Orleans enters this game with a better record, however, Dallas has been the better team in the series, winning six of the last ten meetings. The Mavericks are 5-4-1 ATS in the last ten games in the series and are 12-8 ATS at home this season which is why I am buying the .5 point and laying the points with the Dallas Mavericks when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night.