Mavericks @ Pelicans

Who will WIN this matchup?

Dallas Mavericks (12-10)

@ New Orleans Pelicans (12-13)

Current odds:

Dallas Mavericks: (+210)

New Orleans Pelicans: (-250)

• The line for this game is New Orleans by 6.5 points.

• The New Orleans Pelicans look to escape their recent funk when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. New Orleans has dropped six of its last eight games as it looks to slow a Dallas squad that already is halfway to last season’s 24-win total. The Pelicans committed a season-low seven turnovers in Monday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers and still suffered a 129-126 loss. “You learn something from every game,” New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters. “The one thing I did appreciate is, the guys came out in the second half and we competed. We competed like crazy, and whenever they tried to knock us out of the box, we just hung in and came back and did a really good job.”

• Dallas has been one of the NBA’s biggest surprises, and Tuesday’s 111-102 victory over Portland was its 10th triumph in 13 games. The Mavericks have struggled on the road, however, winning only two of their 10 contests.

• Emerging star forward Luka Doncic returned from a one-game absence due to a hip injury and recorded 21 points and nine rebounds against the Trail Blazers. Doncic, the third overall pick in this year’s draft, also was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for October/November as he averaged 18.5 points in 20 games during that span. “It means a lot,” Doncic told reporters of the honor. “It’s just another example for me to keep working hard and keep fighting for what I want. There’s a lot to improve.”

• Julius Randle was unstoppable against the Clippers as he registered a career-best 37 points on 15-of-24 shooting, but he fouled out of the game with 4:04 remaining and New Orleans was outscored 14-7 the rest of the way. “When you are playing aggressive, trying to make things happen, it goes like that sometimes,” Randle told reporters. “I’ve just got to be better, smarter in those situations.” Jrue Holiday recorded season highs of 32 points and 14 assists against Los Angeles while Anthony Davis registered 23 points and 13 rebounds for his 16th double-double of the campaign.

• The Pelicans went 3-1 against the Mavericks last season and have won five of their last seven meetings.

• Dallas C DeAndre Jordan collected 17 rebounds on Tuesday and has been in double digits in 20 of his 22 games.

• New Orleans F Nikola Mirotic (illness) could miss his second straight contest.