Preseason Test in Dallas: Mavericks' Thin Rotation Meets Pelicans' Rising Guard

Dallas's injury questions give New Orleans a preseason opening.

NOP @ DAL Oct 15, 2026 at 12:00 AM UTC

Preseason games are about rotations more than results, and this one in Dallas comes with plenty of uncertainty on the home side. Marcus Sasser is listed questionable with a hip issue after being ruled out of the Mavericks' last preseason game against the Rockets with an adductor problem. If he sits again, Dallas has fewer guard options behind its main ball handlers, and that could mean more minutes for players fighting for roles.

The frontcourt is the bigger concern. Dereck Lively II is questionable after missing the Rockets game with a foot issue, and Santi Aldama is also questionable after sitting out that same game with a knee issue. Both were out last time, so there is little reason to assume Dallas will have its full big-man group. If either is missing, the Mavericks will likely rely on a patchwork interior, which matters against a team looking to test the paint early. Kyrie Irving was listed probable for the Oct. 11 game with rest and injury management, so even Dallas's top guard could see a carefully managed workload in an exhibition setting.

New Orleans has its own question mark. Dejounte Murray is questionable with a toe injury, which could affect the Pelicans' guard rotation. But that uncertainty comes with a bright spot: Jeremiah Fears has started the preseason strongly, and the early signs point to a promising sophomore year. His shooting was a weakness last season, so the key is whether his early form holds against a different defense. If Murray is out, Fears may get an even bigger chance to show it.

The pick is New Orleans. Dallas's repeated absences up front and in the backcourt make it the shakier side, while the Pelicans have a young guard playing well and enough depth to absorb a Murray absence. Expect a choppy, rotation-heavy game that the Pelicans control late: Pelicans 111, Mavericks 105.

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