DALLAS (Interstat) — The Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans, two Western Conference teams seeking momentum, meet Monday night at Smoothie King Center in a matchup defined by struggling records and standout individual performances. The visiting Mavericks (11-17) arrive after a narrow 116-114 home victory over Detroit on Thursday. Rookie sensation Cooper Flagg led the way with 23 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, continuing a torrid stretch. The overall pick is averaging 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists over his last 10 games, including a 42-point outburst in a loss to Utah on Dec. 15. He is supported by veteran forward Anthony Davis, who posted 15 points and 14 rebounds against the Pistons. New Orleans (6-22) snapped a seven-game skid with a 133-128 win over Houston on Thursday, led by a season-high 29 points from Saddiq Bey. The wing has been a consistent bright spot, averaging 19.2 points and 7.5 rebounds over the same 10-game span. Trey Murphy III added 27 points in the victory. Despite their poor overall records, the season series is split 1-1. The Mavericks edged the Pelicans 118-115 in Dallas on Nov. 21, while New Orleans claimed a 101-99 road win on Nov. 5. The game pits Dallas’s recent uptick — winners of four of their last six — against a Pelicans team with just three victories in their last 15 contests. Defense figures to be a concern; both teams rank near the bottom of the league in defensive rating and have allowed an average of over 120 points per game this season. For Dallas, this begins a critical stretch of three games in four nights, including a Christmas Day matchup at Golden State. New Orleans opens a four-game homestand before embarking on a five-game road trip. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST.