Pelicans vs Mavericks Live Stream: Start Time, TV Channel, Odds & Injury Updates for Tonight’s NBA Showdown

Tip-off set for Wednesday night at American Airlines Center, the 1-6 New Orleans Pelicans visit the 2-5 Dallas Mavericks in a battle of Western Conference squads jockeying to stop early-season skids. KEY STORYLINES • Zion Williamson (pelvis) and Dejounte Murray (knee) remain out, leaving the Pelicans short on star power, while Dallas is crossing its fingers for late injury-report upgrades on Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and rookie center Dereck Lively II. • New Orleans owns the NBA’s worst net rating (-9.9) and is 0-4 on the road; Dallas has dropped three straight and sits 13th in the West despite Luka Dončić averaging 28.3 points and 9.1 assists. • Play-in implications already matter: both clubs are buried in the Southwest Division, 3-plus games behind first-place San Antonio. MATCHUP BREAKDOWN Offense vs. Defense • Pelicans: 108.9 PPG, 43.0 FG%, 40.4 REB (29th, 25th, 28th). • Mavericks: 107.3 PPG, 44.3 FG%, 42.9 REB (27th, 22nd, 23rd). Expect pace to slow as each team leans on half-court sets to mask depth issues. Three Things to Watch 1. Dončić’s Usage: Without Irving, the All-NBA guard’s usage rate skyrockets to 39.7 %—and turnovers climb to 5.2 per game. 2. Pelicans’ Second-Unit Punch: Rookie forward Derik Queen is averaging 7.4 fourth-quarter points, giving Willie Green a spark off the bench. 3. Glass Battle: Dallas is 0-4 when it loses offensive-rebound margin; New Orleans allows 12.6 O-boards nightly. QUOTES FROM THE CAMPS • “We’ve got to defend before we can run,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said after Monday’s practice. • Mavs coach Jason Kidd: “Our guys know the urgency—November games count the same as April.” HOW TO WATCH Date: Wednesday, Nov. 5, 8:30 p.m. ET TV: Bally Sports Southwest (DAL), Bally Sports Gulf Coast (NO) Streaming: NBA League Pass BETTING NUGGETS (as of Tuesday afternoon) • Line: Mavericks ‑6.5 • Over/Under: 223.5 • Trend: Dallas is 12-4 ATS in its last 16 vs. New Orleans. FAST FACTS • Luka Dončić needs 17 points to pass Mark Aguirre for 3rd on the Mavericks’ all-time scoring list. • The Pelicans are 5-1 in their last six trips to Dallas despite last season’s roster overhaul. PREDICTION If Davis suits up, Dallas’ interior size should overwhelm Jonas Valančiūnas and a shorthanded Pelicans front line. Mavericks 118, Pelicans 109.