The Pelicans have been scuffling, losers of eight straight and nine of ten, and when you’re struggling to catch a break on the court, it feels ten times worse when you can’t catch a break off the court. The Pelicans got stuck in Denver due to weather issues in Dallas and were unable to fly to Texas until this morning.
Pelicans vs. Mavericks Betting Odds
| Pelicans | Mavericks | |
| Spread | +5 | -5 |
| Moneyline | +168 | -200 |
| Over/Under | 223.5 |
*Lines accurate at the time of publication
Pelicans vs. Mavericks Best Bets
Mavericks -5 (-110, FanDuel)
NBA players are creatures of habit, especially on game days. Morning shoot-around, afternoon nap, last-minute preparations for that night’s opponent; all of these things are thrown off for the Pelicans tonight. These issues are compounding when you’re in the midst of a tailspin. They finished January 3-13 after a 10-5 December, and they’ve seen a dip in free throw attempts, three-point shooting percentage, and rebounding, just to name a few. They’re still playing without Zion Williamson, and Brandon Ingram has struggled in his return, at least in terms of his efficiency from the field. He’ll need to shoulder a big load to turn things around.
The Mavericks are coming off a 111-105 win over Detroit, where Luka Doncic dropped his fourth 50-point game of the season. Doncic is playing through an ankle injury, but you wouldn’t know it by watching him work. I don’t think this travel snafu is baked into this line enough, so I’m happy to back the Mavericks at this price.
Risk: 1.1 units on FanDuel to win 1 unit. (Playable to -115)
Download the Betsperts App to get even more expert NBA picks, track your bets, and get the latest game stats & information on each matchup.