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October 15, 2026 at 4:48 AM UTC

Postgame Report

Pelicans hold off Mavericks 101-97 in preseason tune-up at American Airlines Center

New Orleans won 101-97 in Dallas's first home preseason game, with both teams more focused on October prep than the result.

Gameday update: Pelicans at Mavericks (10/14/26) — NBA.com
Gameday update: Pelicans at Mavericks (10/14/26) — NBA.com

The Pelicans beat the Mavericks 101-97 on Wednesday night in Dallas, a preseason game that mattered mostly for what it showed both coaching staffs ahead of the regular season. Rotations and reps were the real business. The final was four points, though the stakes stayed low from start to finish.

For Dallas it was the first home game of the preseason, a welcome change after two games in Macao. American Airlines Center is a lot closer to the usual routine than a long flight across the Pacific, and the Mavericks got to play in front of their own crowd for the first time this fall.

The Mavericks were thin up front. Dereck Lively sat out as he continues to recover from the surgery that ended his last season, which left the frontcourt short on size. Santi Aldama was not expected to play either. He has been ramping up in practice after an offseason knee procedure, so his return looks close but not immediate.

There were players to watch on both sides. Kyrie Irving and Morez Johnson each split time in the Macao games, and the expectation was that both would see the floor in Dallas. New Orleans got Jordan Poole into the rotation early, and he was attacking the basket in the first half. In October, that kind of early work is usually the point.

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