PREVIEW: The New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks meet Wednesday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, with tip-off set for 8:30 p.m. ET. Both teams are struggling early in the season, with New Orleans holding a 1-6 record and Dallas sitting at 2-5. The Pelicans arrived in Dallas with the worst record among the Mavericks' next three opponents, while both squads are dealing with significant injury concerns heading into the matchup. Zion Williamson leads New Orleans with 22.8 points per game, while Jordan Poole has added 18.3 points as the team searches for consistency on offense. The Mavericks enter this contest without two of their best defensive players and key playmakers due to injury, which has contributed to their league-worst offensive rating of 103.6. Dallas excels at limiting three-point attempts on defense, ranking first with a 3PA percentage of 33.4, while the Pelicans struggle on that end, allowing 48.7 percent of opponent shots from distance and ranking 29th defensively. New Orleans showcases elite offensive rebounding at 33.2 percent, the third-best mark in the league, though the team ranks poorly in three-point shooting efficiency and attacking the rim. With P.J. Washington stepping up as a consistent scoring threat during Dallas' injury crisis, the Mavericks will lean heavily on his production as they try to halt a two-game losing skid.