Dallas Mavericks vs New Orleans Pelicans Final Score & Over/Under Result — Dec 22, 2025

New Orleans held off Dallas 119–113, a six-point road loss that left the Mavericks searching for answers after a second consecutive close encounter with the Pelicans. The combined 232 points landed well under the 241.5 market total, cashing DAGGER's pregame under call by 9.5.

The first quarter set an explosive tone, with both teams combining for 70 points—the game's highest-scoring frame by far. Dallas led early behind Anthony Davis's dominance (35 points, 17 rebounds, 2 assists), supported by Klay Thompson's 20 points and 5 rebounds. But New Orleans steadied itself around Zion Williamson (24 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists) and the inside-outside punch of Derik Queen (19 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists) and Saddiq Bey (19 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist). After a scorching opening, the game decelerated sharply. The second half combined for just 112 points—a 57-point swing from the first half's 120—as defenses tightened and offensive rhythm stalled. Q2 produced only 50 combined points, and Q3 dropped to 46. A modest fourth-quarter surge (66 combined) wasn't enough to push the total over. Cooper Flagg contributed 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists for Dallas, but it proved insufficient. New Orleans's balanced scoring and rebounding edge secured the win in a game that played significantly slower than the market had projected.