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Mavericks' Bench Outscores Starters 70-27 In Pelicans Loss

Reserves carried Dallas in a 97-101 preseason loss while nine regulars sat out hurt or resting.

70Bench Pointsstarters managed just 27
97-101Finalpreseason loss to Pelicans
9Lead Changesa back-and-forth preseason game
2026-10-16Next Gamehome against the Hawks
By the Mavericks Nightly Desk · Thursday, October 15

Tobi Lawal and John Poulakidas scored 16 points apiece as Dallas' bench produced 70 of the team's 97 points in a loss to New Orleans. Nine Mavericks carried day-to-day tags entering the game, with most pointing toward an Oct. 16 return.

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Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Reserves Do The Scoring

Lawal scored 16 points on 4-of-6 shooting and made all eight of his free throws. Poulakidas matched him with 16 points, hitting 4 of 8 from deep. Lundy added 13, and de Larrea posted 10 points and 6 assists while also pulling down 4 rebounds in 30 minutes. Cisse chipped in 8 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks in just 17 minutes, and Biberovic and Marshall combined for 15 more. The reserves outscored Dallas' starters 70 to 27.

A Nine-Man Watch List

Nine players entered the game carrying day-to-day tags. Flagg, Gafford, Irving and Johnson were held out for rest, Sasser for a hip issue and Howard for illness, while Aldama's knee adds to the list. Cisse played through 17 minutes before an ankle issue surfaced afterward. Nearly all of them share the same target return: Oct. 16, against Atlanta.

Close Game, What's Next

New Orleans led by as many as 9 points and Dallas by just 2, with nine lead changes and two ties before the Pelicans closed it out 101-97. Preseason continues at home on Oct. 16 against the Hawks, four days before Dallas opens the regular season Oct. 21 at Houston. The question hanging over that stretch: how many of the nine day-to-day Mavericks are actually ready to play.

Why did the Mavericks lose to the Pelicans with so many bench points?

Dallas' reserves scored 70 of the team's 97 points, but nine regulars were out and New Orleans still closed the preseason game 101-97.

Who is injured for the Mavericks right now?

Nine players carry day-to-day tags, including Flagg, Gafford, Irving, Sasser, Howard, Aldama and Cisse, with most targeting an Oct. 16 return against Atlanta.

By the Mavericks Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.

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