New Orleans is in a stranger spot. The Pelicans won their opener at Oklahoma City 116-110, but the comeback came from the reserves, who went on an 18-0 run in the third quarter. Every member of the starting lineup finished at -20 or worse. Then they lost 128-118 in Miami. Zion Williamson had 11 points in the opener and new addition Benedict Mathurin had 13. What Jamahl Mosley does with his rotation for the 7:00 PM CT tip in Dallas is the main thing to watch.
Jordan Poole has given that decision some urgency. He played well enough in the first 2 preseason games that he's made a real case to start this one, and Dejounte Murray's toe, which kept him out of the Miami game, could open up a guard spot. If Poole starts in Dallas, it tells you more about how New Orleans plans to open the regular season than the final score will.
On the Dallas side, the watch is the frontcourt. The Mavericks have been playing a different style without Lively and Aldama, and Flagg has talked about an identity built to create more open 3s. If either big man is back for this one, it's the first look at what May's rotation is actually supposed to be. If not, it's another night of the young guys getting minutes. The Pelicans wrap their preseason at home against Washington 2 nights later.