The Dallas Mavericks and the New Orleans Pelicans are having resurgent seasons after missing the playoffs last year. The Mavericks (23-16) and Pelicans (23-16) could be battling each other for playoff positioning all season long. The teams are currently tied for the sixth-best record in the Western Conference.
NBA News: Luka Doncic, Dante Exum, Dereck Lively II, & Brandon Ingram Injury Updates
Dallas is hosting New Orleans tonight at 8:30 p.m. (ET) in what should be an important and must-watch game. But both squads are going to be shorthanded. The Mavericks and Pelicans have split their first two matchups and will meet again at American Airlines Center on Monday.
Dallas has beaten New Orleans eight of the last ten times at home. The Mavericks also lead the all-time series 53-27.
Luka Doncic and Dante Exum Sit Out Again
Dallas listed six players on their injury report for tonight’s contest. Luka Doncic and Dante Exum were among those six players, although they were immediately listed out for the game. Doncic will miss his straight second game with a right ankle sprain, while Exum is sitting out for the sixth consecutive time with a right plantar sprain.
Dereck Lively II is also out against the Pelicans as he continues to nurse his left ankle injury. Lively initiallyMavericks drew a questionable designation. However, he was downgraded to doubtful yesterday and was officially ruled out an hour before game time.
Jason Kidd expects Maxi Kleber to play a maximum of 10-12 minutes in his return to the Dallas Mavericks’ lineup. https://t.co/YyhwK0YfSg
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) January 14, 2024
Lively and Doncic could return on Monday, although it sounds like Exum could be out longer.
On the positive side, Maxi Kleber, Josh Green, and Grant Williams are available.
Kleber has been out since Nov.8 with a toe injury and is expected to be on a 10-to-12-minute restriction, per Sports Illustrated Grant Afseth. Green was dealing with an illness leading up to the game, and Williams is playing through an ankle issue for the fourth straight game.
New Orleans Pelicans Without 3 Starters
New Orleans is playing the second game of a back-to-back. The Pelicans are coming off a 125-113 loss at Denver last night. As a result, Zion Williamson will sit out for rest purposes. Brandon Ingram, Trey Murphy III, and CJ McCollum also won’t play.
The Pelicans are without Zion Williamson (rest), Brandon Ingram (right Achilles), C.J. McCollum (ankle sprain) and Trey Murphy III (left knee tendonitis) tonight vs. Dallas.
In other words: New Orleans will play the Mavs with four of its five leading scorers sidelined.
— Shawn McFarland (@McFarland_Shawn) January 14, 2024
Ingram has been dealing with the achilles issue for some time and played last night. Ingram was listed as questionable before ultimately being ruled out. McCollum (ankle) and Murphy (left knee tendinitis) also played last night.
Expect all four players to be available for New Orleans rematch against Dallas on Monday.
