Yahoo Sports: Unleash Your Athletic Spirit

The New Orleans Pelicans will be facing off against the Dallas Mavericks in an upcoming matchup that promises to be action-packed. Both teams have been performing well this season, with the Pelicans showcasing their strong offense and the Mavericks displaying their solid defense. The Pelicans, led by star player Zion Williamson, will be looking to secure a crucial win against the Mavericks to improve their position in the standings. On the other hand, the Mavericks, led by Luka Dončić, will be aiming to continue their winning streak and take down the Pelicans on their home court. With both teams hungry for victory, this game is sure to be a thrilling showdown. Fans can expect to see high-flying dunks, impressive three-point shooting, and intense defense from both sides. Be sure to tune in to catch all the action as the New Orleans Pelicans take on the Dallas Mavericks in what is sure to be an exciting matchup.

Still without recent addition Anthony Davis, the Dallas Mavericks (30-26) are all set to host the New Orleans Pelicans (13-42) at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Despite Davis’ absence, the Mavericks are on a two-game winning streak and are currently eighth in the Western Conference.

The Pelicans are currently 4-23 on the road with a point differential of -9. They are one of the worst teams in the NBA and are in dead last in the West.

Changes will need to be made in the offseason, but for now, this is not a competitive team.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the

Rotoworld Basketball Show

for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click

here

or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Pelicans vs. Mavericks live today

Date: Friday, February 21, 2025

Time: 8:30PM EST

Site: American Airlines Center

City: Dallas, TX

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day

NBA schedule page

, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Pelicans vs. Mavericks
The latest odds as of Friday:

Odds: Pelicans (+171), Mavericks (-205)

Spread:  Mavericks -5.5

Over/Under: 235 points

That gives the Pelicans an implied team point total of 116.49, and the Mavericks 119.35.
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the

NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool

to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Friday's Pelicans vs. Mavericks game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is betting on Zion Williamson Over 24.5 Points (-105)…

“Anthony Davis, Derrick Lively, and Daniel Gafford are out today. Leaving the Mavericks very thin at the center position. You’d have to imagine this matchup is Zion Williamson’s for the taking. He’s averaging 24.4 points per game and should be well-rested after the All-Star Break. I like him to have a monster game today against the Mavericks.”

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Pelicans & Mavericks game:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.

Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New Orleans Pelicans at +5.

Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 235.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the

Expert NBA Predictions page

from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Pelicans vs. Mavericks on Friday

The Mavericks have won 4 of their last 5 home games against Western Conference Southwest Division teams

Each of the last 4 matchups between the Mavericks and the Pelicans have gone over the Total

The Mavericks have covered the Spread in their last 5 games at home

The Mavericks have won 4 of their last 5 games at home

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our

NBA Top Trends tool

on NBC Sports!
 

Bet the Edge

is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET

right here

or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. 
 
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff: 
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) 
-

Vaughn Dalzell

(@VmoneySports) 
-

Brad Thomas

(@MrBradThomas)