Overview
- Saddiq Bey posted season highs of 22 points and nine rebounds, with Jose Alvarado and Jeremiah Fears adding 13 apiece for New Orleans.
- New Orleans improved to 2–6 by sweeping a back-to-back after beating Charlotte, playing without Zion Williamson for at least a week due to a strained left hamstring and without Jordan Poole because of a sore knee.
- Dallas dropped to 2–6 with a third straight loss as Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II and Dante Exum remained out.
- The Mavericks debuted a new starting look with rookie Cooper Flagg shifted to small forward and D’Angelo Russell at point guard, while Klay Thompson came off the bench; Flagg led Dallas with 20 points and nine rebounds.
- New Orleans dominated the glass 56–44 and secured the result after Flagg’s runner missed with two seconds left; next up are Spurs for the Pelicans on Saturday and Grizzlies for the Mavericks on Friday.