The New Orleans Pelicans vs Dallas Mavericks matchup is scheduled for Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. It is a 2026-27 NBA preseason game, with tipoff listed at 8:00 p.m. ET, or 7:00 p.m. local time in Dallas.
Key Takeaways
- The next Pelicans vs Mavericks matchup is October 14, 2026.
- The game will be played at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
- It is a preseason game, not a regular-season contest.
- New Orleans went 3-1 against Dallas during the 2025-26 regular season.
- The Pelicans won the most recent meeting, 129-111 on March 16, 2026.
When Is New Orleans Pelicans vs Dallas Mavericks?
The next New Orleans Pelicans vs Dallas Mavericks game is set for Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
The NBA lists the matchup as Pelicans at Mavericks, meaning New Orleans will travel to Dallas. The scheduled tipoff is 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, which is 7:00 p.m. Central Time in Dallas.
This is an important distinction for fans searching for the matchup because the teams also met four times during the 2025-26 regular season.
The October meeting starts a new season and will be played as part of the NBA preseason.
Where Is the Pelicans vs Mavericks Game?
The game will be played at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, the home arena of the Dallas Mavericks.
The venue’s event calendar lists the matchup for October 14 at 7:00 p.m. local time as a Mavericks vs. Pelicans preseason game.
For fans planning to attend, the arena is located in the Victory area of downtown Dallas. The matchup is therefore a Dallas home game rather than a neutral-site contest.
Is Pelicans vs Mavericks a Regular-Season Game?
No. The October 14, 2026 matchup is a preseason game.
That matters because preseason games are primarily used for evaluating rotations, developing younger players, testing lineups and preparing for the regular season. Coaches can also manage minutes differently from a competitive regular-season game.
The NBA’s official game page identifies the October 14 matchup as PRESEASON.
The Pelicans’ regular-season schedule begins later in October. The available schedule listings show New Orleans facing Indiana on October 21, followed by additional regular-season games.
So if you are searching for a competitive regular-season record between these teams, you should look at their 2025-26 meetings rather than treating the October preseason result as part of the standings.
Recent Pelicans vs Mavericks Head-to-Head Results
The two teams played four regular-season games during 2025-26. New Orleans won three of them, while Dallas won one.
| Date | Result | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 5, 2025 | Pelicans 101, Mavericks 99 | New Orleans |
| Nov. 21, 2025 | Pelicans 115, Mavericks 118 | Dallas |
| Dec. 22, 2025 | Mavericks 113, Pelicans 119 | New Orleans |
| Mar. 16, 2026 | Mavericks 111, Pelicans 129 | New Orleans |
November 5, 2025
New Orleans opened the season series with a narrow 101-99 victory in Dallas.
Saddiq Bey led the Pelicans with 22 points and nine rebounds. Cooper Flagg led Dallas with 20 points and nine rebounds, while the Mavericks missed a potential game-winning shot in the final seconds.
The close score showed how little separated the teams in that meeting.
November 21, 2025
Dallas answered with a 118-115 victory at home.
Trey Murphy III scored 25 points for New Orleans, while Cooper Flagg led the Mavericks with 29 points. The game was also part of the NBA Cup group stage.
That win remains Dallas’ only victory over New Orleans in the four regular-season meetings from 2025-26.
December 22, 2025
New Orleans won again, this time 119-113.
Zion Williamson scored 24 points and delivered a decisive fourth-quarter performance. Dallas received a huge game from Anthony Davis, who finished with 35 points, while Klay Thompson added 20 points in the first half.
The Pelicans entered the game having started the season 3-22 but had won five consecutive games by the end of the matchup.
March 16, 2026
The most recent meeting ended with a much wider 129-111 Pelicans victory in New Orleans.
Zion Williamson scored 27 points, while the Pelicans built a lead of as many as 19 points. Dallas was led by former Pelican Naji Marshall, who scored 32 points, and Cooper Flagg added 21 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
That result gave New Orleans a 3-1 edge in the 2025-26 regular-season series.
How Did the Teams Perform in 2025-26?
Both teams finished the 2025-26 regular season with the same 26-56 record, but their season statistics tell a little more of the story.
The Pelicans averaged 115.5 points per game and allowed 120.0. They finished 11th in the Western Conference.
Dallas also finished 26-56, ending the season 12th in the Western Conference. The Mavericks averaged 114.1 points per game while allowing 119.6.
| 2025-26 stat | Pelicans | Mavericks |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 26-56 | 26-56 |
| Points per game | 115.5 | 114.1 |
| Points allowed | 120.0 | 119.6 |
| Western Conference finish | 11th | 12th |
These numbers suggest that neither team had a strong 2025-26 campaign, but the new season provides a fresh starting point.
Players and Storylines to Watch
Zion Williamson and the Pelicans
Zion Williamson is naturally one of the biggest storylines whenever New Orleans takes the floor.
He scored 27 points in the most recent Pelicans-Mavericks meeting and shot 11-of-13 from the field in that game.
For the preseason matchup, however, fans should avoid assuming that every key player will receive a full regular-season workload. Coaches often use preseason games to evaluate combinations and manage minutes.
Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks
Cooper Flagg is another major player to watch.
The 2025 No. 1 overall pick was already producing against New Orleans during his rookie season. He recorded 21 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in the March 2026 meeting.
His development gives the Dallas-New Orleans matchup a different storyline than it had in previous seasons.
How to Watch Pelicans vs Mavericks
The October 14 preseason matchup is listed for NBA TV, with regional coverage also shown through Pelicans+ and GCSEN for New Orleans and KFAA and MavsTV on the Dallas side.
Availability can vary by location and broadcast package, so viewers should check their local listings before tipoff.
The game is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. CT.
What Makes This Matchup Interesting?
The most interesting part of the October matchup is not simply the previous 3-1 series advantage for New Orleans.
It is the opportunity to see how both teams look at the beginning of a new season.
The 2025-26 Pelicans and Mavericks both finished 26-56, so neither team enters this matchup with a dominant recent record. At the same time, their previous meetings produced three close games and one larger New Orleans win.
The preseason setting also makes the game useful for evaluating players rather than predicting the final standings. Lineups, minutes and rotations can change quickly.
For fans, the best questions are therefore straightforward: How much will the key players play? Which young players receive extended minutes? Which lineup combinations work? And how different will these teams look once the regular season begins?
Pelicans vs Mavericks FAQs
Who won the last Pelicans vs Mavericks game?
The New Orleans Pelicans won the most recent meeting 129-111 on March 16, 2026. Zion Williamson scored 27 points for New Orleans, while Naji Marshall led Dallas with 32 points.
When is the next Pelicans vs Mavericks game?
The next scheduled matchup is Wednesday, October 14, 2026. The game is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET and will be played in Dallas.
Where will Pelicans vs Mavericks be played?
The game will be played at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, home of the Mavericks.
Is the October 14, 2026 game preseason?
Yes. The October 14 matchup is officially listed as an NBA preseason game. It is not part of the 2026-27 regular-season standings.
What was the Pelicans vs Mavericks record in 2025-26?
New Orleans won three of the four regular-season meetings, while Dallas won one. The Pelicans won the final meeting 129-111.
Are the Pelicans and Mavericks in the same conference?
Yes. Both teams compete in the Western Conference of the NBA. In 2025-26, New Orleans finished 11th in the West and Dallas finished 12th.
Conclusion
The New Orleans Pelicans vs Dallas Mavericks matchup on October 14, 2026 is a preseason meeting at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. New Orleans enters the matchup with a 3-1 advantage over Dallas from their four 2025-26 regular-season meetings, including a 129-111 win in their most recent game.
Because this is preseason, the biggest value for fans will be seeing how both teams use their rotations and young players before the regular season begins. The matchup also provides an early look at a Western Conference rivalry that could develop further during the 2026-27 campaign.
I am James Patterson an American writer sharing thoughtful insights on dreams, spirituality, personal growth, and everyday life through practical guides and meaningful stories for SpiritualDreamz.com readers everywhere with warmth.
