Dallas Mavericks V.s New Orleans Pelicans NBA Betting Predictions, Picks and Parlays fo December 22, 2025

Cooper Flagg’s Birthday Bash in the Bayou?

The Mavericks head into New Orleans tonight to face the Pelicans, and honestly, the vibes in Dallas are a bit of a rollercoaster right now. We just watched them drop a winnable game to the Sixers on Saturday, and now they’re staring down a six-game road trip with a roster that looks like a medical convention. 

The big story, obviously, is the phenom Cooper Flagg. The kid literally just turned 19 yesterday. He’s popped up on the injury report with a back contusion. He did participate in the morning shootaround, though, which usually means he’s a go, but with the Mavs playing the first half of a back-to-back, Jason Kidd might play it safe.

The Pels aren't exactly the picture of health either, but they’ve been frisky lately, riding a four-game win streak. Zion Williamson is back and looking like his usual "bully-ball" self, which is a nightmare for a Dallas frontline that just lost Dereck Lively II to foot surgery. No Kyrie Irving until at least January makes the offensive burden on the rookie and Anthony Davis absolutely massive. 

If Klay Thompson’s knee is acting up too, the Mavs are going to be scraping the bottom of the rotation. Naji Marshall is returning to his old stomping grounds after a huge 22-point night, so expect some "revenge game" energy there. New Orleans is finally finding some rhythm after a brutal start to the season, and playing at the Smoothie King Center with a healthy-ish Zion is a different beast entirely.

Betting Picks & Predictions

The line is hovering around Pelicans -2.5, which feels like a trap given the Mavs' star power, but Dallas is 11-18 and struggling with depth. With Kyrie out and Flagg potentially limited by that back tweak, the Mavs are going to have a hard time matching the Pels' bench production. New Orleans is clicking, and Zion against a thinned-out Dallas interior is a mismatch you can't ignore. Prediction: Pelicans to cover the -2.5 at home.