NBA Prop Bets: New Orleans Pelicans vs Dallas Mavericks (March 16, 2026)
The Dallas Mavericks (23-46) face the New Orleans Pelicans (23-46) at Smoothie King Center. Let's take a look at the NBA Prop Bets for Monday's matchup. The Pelicans opened as 7.5-point favorites but the spread has since moved to 8.5, leaving the Pelicans at -340 and Mavericks at +270. The total points line is set at 240.5, with OVER at -110 and UNDER at -110, meaning the implied expected score for the game is 124-116 New Orleans.
- The Pelicans (-115) have a 38-29-2 ATS record this season, while the Mavericks (-105) hold a record of 30-38-1.
- The Pelicans have a 35-34-0 O/U record this season (meaning 35 games have gone over the total points line and 34 have gone under). The Mavericks have a 29-40-0 O/U record.
Scoring Insights
- The Pelicans are averaging 115.6 points per game this season (14th in the league). Comparatively, the Mavericks are averaging only 113.2 (24th).
- Defensively, the Pelicans are giving up a whopping 119.7 points per game this season (25th in the league), while the Mavericks are giving up an average of 118.2 points (23rd).
Game Style
What do the stats tell us about the style of basketball these teams are playing this season?
Pace
- The Pelicans currently rank 19th for pace this season, recording 98.7 possessions per game. Alternatively, the Mavericks sit 11th on that scale with 100.0 possessions per contest.
Field Goal Split
- Looking at field goal splits, just 35.7% of the Pelicans' field goal attempts come from three point range (26th in the league), leaving 64.3% from two. Meanwhile, the Mavericks' opponents are taking only 38.9% of their attempts from three (10th) and 61.1% from two.
- Comparatively, Dallas takes 35.1% of shots from three (29th), leaving 64.9% from two, while New Orleans' opponents are attempting 45.0% from three (29th) and 55.0% from two.
Beyond the Arc
- In terms of made three-pointers, the Pelicans are shooting 34.6% from deep in 2025/26 (23rd in the NBA), compared to the Mavericks who are making 34.2% of their attempts (28th).
- On the opposite end, New Orleans is holding opponents to 34.8% of their three-point attempts (5th), while Dallas' opponents are hitting 34.3% of their shots (1st).
Ball Protection
- The Pelicans are committing just 14.1 turnovers per game this season, ranking 10th in the league. As such, the Mavericks aren't likely to pressurise their opponents in this area given they're forcing only 13.0 turnovers per contest (26th).
- Flipping that script, New Orleans is forcing 14.4 turnovers (15th), while Dallas is committing 14.7 (19th).
Crashing the Boards
- New Orleans is pulling down 43.4 rebounds per game this season (18th in the league), including 12.2 offensive boards (8th). Conversely, Dallas' opponents are averaging 45.8 rebounds (26th), 12.0 of which have come on the offensive end (T23rd).
- Meanwhile, the Mavericks are averaging 44.2 rebounds (11th) and 10.1 offensive rebounds (25th), while the Pelicans are allowing 45.0 and 12.5, ranking 20th and 29th.
Back-to-backs
- Notably, the Pelicans are playing the second leg of a back-to-back set.
- New Orleans holds a 3-9 W-L record on the second leg of a back-to-back this season, as well as a 6-6-0 ATS record and 7-5-0 O/U record.
- Additionally, Dallas has a 6-10 W-L record, 9-7-0 ATS record and 10-6-0 O/U record against teams playing the second leg of a back-to-back this season.
- Notably, the Mavericks are playing the second leg of a back-to-back set.
- Notably, the Pelicans and Mavericks are playing the second leg of a back-to-back set.
First Quarter Winner
New Orleans is -180 to win the first quarter, while Dallas is +150. Here are their first quarter records in 2025/26.
| Total | Home | Road | Favorite | Underdog | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | 29-38-2 | 15-20-0 | 14-18-2 | 8-6-0 | 21-32-2 | 4-6-0 |
| Dallas | 23-44-2 | 12-21-1 | 11-23-1 | 11-11-0 | 12-33-2 | 4-6-0 |
First Half Winner
New Orleans is -250 to win the first half and Dallas is +205. Here are their first half records in 2025/26.
| Total | Home | Road | Favorite | Underdog | Last 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | 28-40-1 | 16-18-1 | 12-22-0 | 10-4-0 | 18-36-1 | 6-4-0 |
| Dallas | 23-45-1 | 11-22-1 | 12-23-0 | 11-11-0 | 12-34-1 | 3-7-0 |
HT/FT
New Orleans is -220 to complete the HT/FT double. Conversely, Dallas is +425.
- The Pelicans have completed the HT/FT double in 23.2% of games this season, while the Mavericks have completed the HT/FT double in 23.2% of games.
To Go To Overtime
Monday's matchup is +1900 to go to overtime.
- The Pelicans have played in five games that went to overtime this season, while the Mavericks have appeared in four.
Both Teams 110+
- Both teams have scored 110+ points in 40 of New Orleans' 69 games this season. Meanwhile, 38 of Dallas' 69 games have seen both squads reach that number.
Last Time They Met
New Orleans recorded a 129-111 victory over Dallas at Smoothie King Center when these teams last met on March 16.
