New Orleans Pelicans Defeat Dallas Mavericks 101–97 in 2026 NBA Preseason
The New Orleans Pelicans secured a 101–97 win over the Dallas Mavericks on October 14, 2026, in the NBA preseason, marked by efficient three-point shooting from New Orleans and strong free-throw accuracy from Dallas.
Archive recap · Listed by game date. First published Oct 17, 2026.
In their October 14, 2026, NBA preseason matchup, the New Orleans Pelicans edged the Dallas Mavericks 101–97. Jeremiah Fears led New Orleans with 16 points, contributing 5 assists and 3 steals while shooting 6-for-11 from the field, including 2-for-3 from three-point range. His balanced scoring and playmaking helped the Pelicans maintain a narrow advantage.
For Dallas, Tobi Lawal matched Fears with 16 points on an efficient 4-of-6 shooting but stood out with a perfect 8-for-8 mark from the free-throw line. John Poulakidas also added 16 points, hitting 4 of 8 three-point attempts. Despite their combined efforts, the Mavericks fell short as the Pelicans’ perimeter shooting proved more precise.
A key contrast emerged in three-point efficiency: New Orleans’ Karlo Matkovic shot 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, complementing Fears’ accuracy, while Dallas relied heavily on Poulakidas’ volume but converted only half of his eight attempts. This difference in perimeter shooting accuracy was a notable factor in the Pelicans’ preseason victory.
- Game scores and player statistics supplied by BALLDONTLIE.
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